Spi valve seating

murrayjay57 · 01-12-2013, 06:25 PM

Recently pulled apart my block for cleaning and some upgrades. I went to check the valve seats and found nothing wrong. Even had a pro check the head and he found nothing wrong. I believe i have found the angel of all spi focus. :rolleyes:

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WrenchTurnerDave · 01-12-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murrayjay57

Recently pulled apart my block for cleaning and some upgrades. I went to check the valve seats and found nothing wrong. Even had a pro check the head and he found nothing wrong. I believe i have found the angel of all spi focus. :rolleyes:

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Pro mechanic? Not his area of expertise. Pro machinist, he's the man!

The problem with these valve seats is that they are within tolerance, according to Ford. Even an expert mechanic (unless works at Ford) wouldn't know the problem. I called Ford dealership to ask about rings and guy was friendly until I brought up valve seat problem, then denied all knowledge that he'd ever seen that happen, (BULLSPIT)

Since they are within tolerance, measure all day long, still will come out right. What you do is, take a metal punch, turn heads upside down, take a hammer and punch over 4 pieces of aluminum from heads over valve seats at very edge (after pressing in new ones, don't bother doing it with the old) and you have corrected problem.

I hope this doesn't cost you too much money...

lmcd314 · 01-12-2013, 10:54 PM

do it!!!! or you will be sorry!!!!

murrayjay57 · 01-13-2013, 11:43 PM

The head is still off. So i shurly will do so. Whenever i get a day off from work :eek:
Thanks for the tip

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TheGlassMaker · 01-13-2013, 11:59 PM

I had a mechanic blatantly get in face and tell me he has been a mecahnic for 35 years and i'm talking out of my ass about a valve seat problem. He said he has worked on focuses for years and I should never not believe what I read on the internet.

This is after I gave my SPI more than regular maintenance, and I babied the cap out of it. I took the car to him after the motor blew with 160K on the odometer. I told him the problem with these engines and I offered to pay for him to do a zetec swap. At this point he treated me like shit and refused to do a zetec swap. He basically called me a idiot ad said he will only put in the car what it came with.

Three days later he calls me back and tells me he just off the phone with a friend that owns a parts yard. He said it looks like I was right, and it would actually be cheaper to do the zetec swap because of the on going valve seat issue you can't find a rebuilt spi for under $2000. this is before shipping. On top of all that I would have to pay for 10 hours of labor @ 75 bucks a hr. Then I would also need to pay for fluids, hoses, and possible other parts. He said at the cheapest I was looking at $3500 easily.

TheGlassMaker · 01-14-2013, 12:10 AM

So after my I told you so speech. I told him not to bother looking into the zetec swap i had enough of him and would come and get it. I not going to make a mechanic tell me what engine i'm putting in my car when I'm paying him to do it.

I did the swap myself with the help of a friend for just shy of $1300 that's counting the $500 hundred for the use of his garage and engine hoist.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296946

SergFocus · 01-14-2013, 12:17 AM

The spi tranny matches up to the zetec motor?

TheGlassMaker · 01-14-2013, 12:29 AM

Yes sir. They are a direct bolt up. The zetec and spi use the same trans housings but the regular zetecs trans is geared different. But they are a direct bolt up and work fine you would never notice the difference unless maybe you drag raced a zetec.