Hey Mike...Head swap again... 87 535is to 76 530i

[canada karl]

I think I'm going to do this swap. What affect would this swap have on performance and would I be doing anything different with the 535is head in regard to valve adjustment ,plugs ,timing etc??? Thanks Karl

[Mike W.]

Cam will be different, less duration but more lift I think. May or may not make a noticable difference. Otherwise, no, it's the same. Just treat it like it came on the car from the factory.

[canada karl]

Hi Mike This head was apparently rebuilt at 121 k. Should I just install it or have it cleaned and the valve seals changed? Would I need to replace valve guides? I don't think I should get a valve grind as I'm concerned about installing a newer cylinder head on an older motor and then the bottom end goes kaput. Any thoughts? Thx Karl

[Mike W.]

Hi Mike This head was apparently rebuilt at 121 k. Should I just install it or have it cleaned and the valve seals changed?

How many miles on it now? If it's under 200K I wouldn't bother.

Would I need to replace valve guides?

Guides are overrated, IMO. Yes, nice tight ones are nice, but what happens with worn ones and good VG seals? Nothing. The car still doesn't use oil if the seals are good.

I don't think I should get a valve grind as I'm concerned about installing a newer cylinder head on an older motor and then the bottom end goes kaput. Any thoughts? Thx Karl

Another old wives tale. If the rings are worn out, they're worn out. Good valves aren't going to do any harm. You can check how they are sealing with alcohol or gas, by pouring it into the port. I feel the most important thing with a used head is making sure it is flat and uncracked. Oh, and that the cam and rockers are in good shape. R and R the cam oiler hollow bolts and either use the new type bolts are red locktite the old ones. That's a bigger deal than the valve guides.

[Blaise]

R and R the cam oiler hollow bolts and either use the new type bolts are red locktite the old ones. That's a bigger deal than the valve guides.

Mike, can you point me in the right direction for these "new" bolts. Every older head that I have adjusted valves on had these bolts a bit on the loose side. I cleaned and used loktite....

How do the new bolts differ?

[canada karl]

n/m

[Mike W.]

R and R the cam oiler hollow bolts and either use the new type bolts are red locktite the old ones. That's a bigger deal than the valve guides.

Mike, can you point me in the right direction for these "new" bolts. Every older head that I have adjusted valves on had these bolts a bit on the loose side. I cleaned and used loktite....

How do the new bolts differ?

The new bolts have locktite pre applied. With the cost of a couple of drops of locktite I don't know why some people prefer the new ones, but they do. I just locktite them and I've never had a problem once I did.