LarryMaine
Member
OK, can anyone tell me definitively how "proud" the valve guides need to be on my 1957 Ford 850. I am replacing the entire valve train and I have knocked out 6 of the 8 guides. I left 2 in for reference for installation of the new guides, but I am having difficulty getting the new guides in without deforming them, so am going to take the cyl head to a machine shop and have them do it. They are going to want a specific number of how high the top of the guide has to be above the valve seat. The Shop manual does not give a number, they just say it will be at a correct height when you use the correct Ford service tool. The discussion group archives mention 9/16", but that is for an NAA and not an 800 series. Also, if you have done this before, you will know that the valve spring seat is stepped, it goes up from where the spring seats, to where the guide pocket hole is. If 9/16" is correct, is this from the bottom of the spring seat, or from the top edge? Any help will be appreciated as I don't want to take it to the machine shop and not be able to get it done correctly. Thanks to all, Larry.
