Valve guides

[Captainjimmy]

When installing valve guides on an Atomic 4. Do you want to lube them, or do you want to put sta-tite on them. I've got the guides in the freezer, and I'm going to heat up the block , just a little. Which way do I go
James

[Don Moyer]

Captain Jimmy,

We have had good success in simply driving new valve guides into the block, using a little lubricant like WD-40. Freezing the guides should make them go in a bit easier, but we have never found that to be necessary.

According to the folks who have been installing our guides for quite a few years, the most important thing is to use a properly sized driving tool. Your machine shop can easily make you a driving tool if you don't already have one. The tool should have a pilot that extends into the guide by a 1/2" or so, and a shoulder that extends over the entire top of the guide. If you're using the same tool to drive the old guides out, the OD of the tool will, of course, have to fit inside the boring in the block.

Best regards,

Don Moyer