Thread: VE Valve seals and guide replacement, OEM or A/M?

I am getting ready to send my VE head to the reconditioners to be 'rebuilt' - Question:

Should I 'Upgrade' to aftermarket valve seals and guides (ones found on the Mazworx website) or should i just use genuine OEM parts. What are the difference? Are the aftermarket ones better? or just a cheaper option (what are OEM ones worth roughly)

Should i be looking into aftermarket valve springs for a SR20VET build or will oem ones do. I am aiming for 400HP using a 6262 or a Garret GTX series turbo.

you forgot to ask about shimming.

Yeah - These guys are one of the best, Most car dealers send engine bits to this place so im sure they can handle it

Cant beat oem quality.

Supertech has a great reputation also, cant go wrong there.

Stratton.

id say if the oem guides are fine to leave them alone. You start removing guides and replacing them you are just asking for more trouble. No point in replacing the guides. As far as the seals, either oem or supertech would be the way to go.

Why is it asking for trouble removing the guides?

I am unsure the condition of them as i brought the engine used and never seen it running, stripped it for the head.

Are guides something that can be tested/checked while in the head.

Thanks for your input and information,

The guides rarely wear. Its highly doubtful you will need new ones. Again no reason to waste money on useless parts. The shop will be able to tell you if they are worn and unusable. But again, ive yet to see an sr head that had worn valve guides. Usually you replace guides if you have broken them as in during piston to valve contact will often crack or break the end of the guide depending on how bad the valve bent and how hard it hit.

From what I've seen id be willing to bet the intake guides are fine but the exhaust sides may need replacement. Yes they have a tolerance that can be measured

Alright ill see what the say, if they are fine ill only get the seals done.

Another question, i have the option to buy some very cheap new JWT VE high rev valve springs, would they be a waste of time installing them to a head that will be used as a VET setup or would be a nice upgrade over the oem

i have supertech seals in my head.