Hey guys, I have two sets of E heads in my shop. Set 1 is from a 1970 Toronado with rotators and a date code of 190 (located to the bottom rear of the valve cover). Set 2 are from an unknown donator and have no rotators but utilize dampers and assumedly shallow valve pockets. The perceived date cast on these heads is 230. I thought all E heads had rotators? So what's up with these.

 

They did when they came off the assembly line 47 years ago. Someone likely did a valve job at some point in the past half-century and installed different valves and retainers to get rid of the heavy rotators.

 

Not an uncommon trick for increasing RPM limit. The question is, did the shop who set those up correctly set the installed spring height by using shim washers under the springs? If not, then the swap was all for naught.

 

Check the installed heights. Should be about 1.67" with shallow seats and retainers, or with rotators and deep seats. Retainers and deep seats, about 1.88" spring installed height.

 

I could almost blow on the retainer and see the valve open. I had an intake valve out of one head a while ago and observed no shims, however I will measure the installed heights and see what I got when I get back to them.


As usual, thanks for the help.

 

The Toro set will have 2.072" intake valves. Is that the case for your other set of E heads or are they 2.00" intake valves?

 

They're 2" and thanks for asking.


(Rant alert) I rarely come across anything good for Olds' and when I do, the good parts are either missing or rusted beyond use. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only Olds owner north of Milwaukee. Most if none of the machine shops around here have any experience with the engines. Nobody has a Torque Plate. I have to make the best out of what I find.


You can't know how valuable this site is to me.