Winter Quarter Newsletter - January, 2007 - Jaguar Club of MN

HeadWERKSSaturday November 11 thNot sure what a “three angle valve seat” is ... wondering what “concentricity” has to do withyour cylinder head? You should have been at Headwerks that Saturday morning!Steve Schoeben took twenty-four of your fellow club members through his shop in Bloomingtondescribing every step of the process.Did I say “shop”? If that conjures up thoughts of some dark, dank, dismal, smelly place withmetal shavings underfoot and dust hanging in the air ... you got it all wrong!Steve Schoeben is about ready to startthe tour. This place redefines “clean”!Peter Goleczka shows his son Josepha valve. He’s not impressed.Steve runs an operation, reconditioning cylinderheads for all comers, in an absolutely spotlessenvironment. I have eaten in restaurants withless cleanliness, and worse decor. It’s obvious heloves what he does and takes pride in every job.That most complicated casting on your enginecouldn’t gain new life in a more modern andpresentable environment.And what a process! Cylinder heads for today’smodern engines are intricately designed, somesporting five valves per cylinder and oil passagewaysthat would confound a micro mole. Themetallic composition of cylinder heads from eachmanufacturer as well as the age of the engine, notto mention its condition, each represent a differentset of challenges.Valves have to seat properly. We saw the processof ensuring that demonstrated on the latest machines.A one thousandth of an inch valve runoutis barely a challenge at HeadWorks. You justhave to know what you’re doing, and you have tohave the right gear.The most interesting point is the variety of metalalloys used by manufacturers and the range eachhas progressed through in the last 50 odd years.As Steve confirmed, you must know exactly whatyou’re working with. Nearly every job that comesthrough the front door presents a different challenge.Virtually no two are the same.Well, if I ever need any head work (no commentsplease!), I know precisely where my bits aregoing. Thanks to Jeff Flynn for arranging thisinformative and interesting outing, and Steve forwelcoming us into his lair.Dick wonders if he can slip thaton to an AC.Guess which one comes off an earlyE-type? Clue: It’s not the shiny one.The Editor left his pen in his block.4Steve dunks a head...if you seebubbles, you got troubles.George Arthur,Jaguar Club of MinnesotaHave you signed up for 2007 Rendezvous yet?I think Steve is measuring valve run-out,what ever that is.JANUARY 2007 WWW.JAGUARMINNESOTA.ORG WINTER ISSUE