Chipped Exhaust Guide

[John Milner]

I recently had a set of 409 heads shipped to me and one of the guides was chipped in shipping. I don't really feel comfortable running the guide as is. I also am unsure if the guides in 409 heads are similar to 454 big block heads in that the guides are pressed into an area that needs to be sealed off because of coolant. So, how would you fix this? Would you press a guide liner in? Or would you install a new cast iron guide?

 

[Don Jacks]

Have it drilled out and a new cast iron guide pressed in.From the looks of the one next to it,you may need more than one.

 

[John Milner]

They all look to have been knurled. Sounds like a trip to a machine shop is in order.

 

[409gang]

They all look to have been knurled. Sounds like a trip to a machine shop is in order.

I agree they are probably all wore out, thats why they have been knurled.

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

If those are 690s or 583s, they are shot and you should send them directly to me, no charge .

All kidding aside, a good machine shop ought to get you back to "as new". I hope you got them at a fair price.

Cheers! TomK

 

[427John]

From the pics it looks like its already had liners put in at one time,there should be no trouble driving those out and putting new ones in.

 

[El Rat]

The shipper did you a favor!!!

 

[fourzeronine]

Since you need new guides, might as well step down the valve stem size while you're at it. Reduce valvetrain weight & slightly increase port flow.