Ok my valve guides on intakes were good. ..I replaced all the exhaust guides as they were bad…I only have air leaking from that one valve as far as I can determine…I will re-examine that valve seal…I have graphite valve seat cutter by neway and it works well…I can’t figure out a way to lower the seal on the intakes? I don’t think they are leaking but hoe can I lower seal if needed…the contact point was high on them when I pulled them so that’s how they were before I got them ground..?

I grinder all the exhaust seats but just lapped the intakes as they appeared pretty decent

Ok did all that after recsetting lash correctly I’m up to 40 psi and then with a tablespoon of oil some the cylinders raise to 55 psi some remain at 40…. I did hear the air escaping on my last test…so I guess the valves are not sealing…I think it may be the intake valves…when I lapped them the contact point was at the top of the valve….but pictures of when I removed the valve also show a very high point of contact on the intakes…I don’t know why that is…had intakes ground at 30 degrees..so that is correct..I’m assuming the seats are also 30.. unless somebody changed the angle years ago…I don’t know if there is way to lower contact point ..the seat is about 1/8 ..

EDIT
So I got a leak down detector…I ran 40 psi into all cylinders…I could only hear air escaping from the exhaust valve on cylinder 3. While maintaining 40 psi into all the other cylinders the air was escaping out of the oil fill/breather tube ….at 40 psi pumped in ipthey all held at about 10 psi so I don’t know what is acceptable for loss at rings but I’m guessing maybe the rings are bad..I probably was able to get 60 psi before the valve job as the manifold was on and engine was hot…just assuming…I really don’t know if the other valves are all good as air is escaping through rings but like I said it was only the one valve that leaked during testing..I hope this helps in any advice tks!

Yes after I revinstalled valves I rotated the valves piston to top dead center and with feeler guage and cold engine I set intakes to 9 and exhaust to 12 for clearance…I believe that was correct?

Engine ran well but I could tell it’s lost power over last year… compression low on all cylinders but super low on one..when I pulled. Head the piston head was clean from gas running over it…did the valves and replaced gasket..so I don’t know…may have to just pull the head and re check everything..especially the valves…I would really like to just be able to check all my valves sealing correctly…is there a simple way to do this? At least that would eliminate much confusion if I knew they were sealing…I poured alcohol over the seated valves but with how they are positioned on an angle it’s hard to tell if they were holding back the fluid or the fluid was just rolling away with gravity…I don’t mind pulling the head again..it s not going anywhere! Tks for help

So it always has cranked slow compared to a newer car…battery was losing power after numerous tests so it’s back on charger…it’s the first impulse which hits 30 psi…none will go any higher no matter how many revolutions….Ii does seem like there is not enough cranking power sometimes..but 5 of 6 were around 60 psi before working on it…they all seem to react the same way during testing..I’m just hitting the starter button with key off..plugs out coil disconnected… and manifold and carb off…

Well put new gasket and head back on and now I’m only getting 30 psi in all cylinders! I’m at a loss.. I thought the valves were sealing pretty good .. the gasket was a new old stock.. and I have the manifold off … could they all be this bad with same reading for all? I also have temp guage out and hoses not connected but didn’t think it will matter.. hoping there is another reason!?

Great thanks…I do have conventional gasket and bought the copper spray the other day..head is cleaned well and have printed out the torque pattern ….appreciate the information..I will install tomorrow…!!

Well now going to get heat back on..it is remarkably straight and no warps…I cleaned it up and discovered the torque on the old gasket cut an indentation into the head…I can feel it with my fingernail and worried the new gasket will leak…got it cleaned with razor blades and would most likely have to sand the grooves out…..I don’t want to ruin head by sanding and wondering if I should coat the impression with some type of sealant before installing gasket} thanks for any help[PROCESSING IMAGE.... PLEASE WAIT]

Thanks everybody for the help…got them all cut and lapped…was able to pour some rubbing alcohol over them for some time and nothing leaking…so looking forest to head gasket delivery and hoping the valve job helps with the compression issues ..they were in rough shape when I pulled head.. have and extra head gasket so I will put it back together..if still no help with compression..I’ll do the rings…





Learned a ton with this task and now all the proper tools going forward.. that big c clamp style valve spring compressor and the correct valve guide driver were perfect..