Cylinder head valve job

pishta said
what do you consider a valve job? Those come in many levels, from $ knurling guides and grinding valves to $$$ drilling out and replacing bronze guides, with new stainless valves and 3 angle valve job with pocket port. None of that stuff is necessary if your guides spec and your putting in new valves. Maybe just a light seat grind to clean them up and a hand lap of the new valves. Best part about a valve job is getting clean heads back with a skim cut.

Based on my troubleshooting of the problem. I think I would just need to have the seats cleaned up, valves cleaned up and lapped, probably new seals I would assume. I'll lay out what I'm dealing with to give everyone an idea.

Got a 76 ramcharger with a 440, vehicle was running rich when I got. Owner didn't know much history. I cleaned up lots of wiring, brake job, and other parts for reliability. Valve covers had a small leak upon purchase. Replaced valve gaskets and leak pursued. Some previous owner installed exhaust manifold gaskets with heat shield. Determined heat shield was keeping valve covers from seating all the way, causing the leak. Removed exhaust manifolds and valve covers again. Cleaned valve cover surface on head, some gasket material fell down below the rockers. removed rocker assembly to get to debris. Re-installed everything and upon startup passenger side, sounds like it has an exhaust leak. Removed exhaust manifold again and redo sealing with a non-heat shield gasket. Exhaust leak sounds still there upon startup again. Rotate engine by hand, checking rocker movement and pushrods to see if hydraulic lifter dropped on a lobe, looks good. Removed intake manifold for visual inspection of lifters and cam, looks good. Remove rocker assembly and cylinder head. Lots of carbon buildup in intake manifold from rich running, so I'm beginning to think there's excess carbon on a valve causing a problem. Installed spark plugs and put cylinder head upside, poured water into each chamber to see if water will leak from intake or exhaust side. One of the intake valves leaked water passed it to the intake manifold opening. So that is the assumption that I'm making in need a valve job. I don't know if other work will be needed upon disassembly but that's where it is at the moment.