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Thread: M20 valves hitting...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Indianapolis, IN
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    Default M20 valves hitting...

    Well i guess i've been lurking this site for a little while but and now finally posting... But anyways I just bought a 1990 525i for a really good price, and it had a bit of a head gasket leak and from the sounds of it valve contact. I got the head off today and noticed exactly what i suspected, the valves have hit the pistons. Its not terrible but what do you guys think about running with pistons like this? I've got a new head already built ready to drop on there.




    hopefully a little tech to add to the board for my first post.

  2. #2
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    Feb 2007
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    Indianapolis, IN
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    Default

    Here's a pic... from a cell phone unfortunately but something...


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  3. #3
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    baton rouge, loserana
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    no problem i just dress down the sharp bits with a chisel and slap the head on, done dozens of heads like that
    all america wants is cold beer warm cat and a place to take a poop with a door on it

  4. #4
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    Eastern Tennessee USi
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    can I help? lol... Winfred got me on this

    new head make sure you dont have oil or anything in the bolt holes before doing this.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Default

    I think it should also be stated that it would be an exceptionally good idea to replace the rod bearings and the wrist pins - as well as the required valvetrain parts. Contact like that can wreck them in short order. Also - check the sidewalls for scoring. Your pistons DID pitch a little in the bores when contact was made.

    Car Info is HERE

  6. #6
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    id leave the bearings alone that small amount of contact won't hurt them, i am not talking out of my ass here, i have some motors over 100k miles after a broken belt still running fine some well over 200k miles total
    all america wants is cold beer warm cat and a place to take a poop with a door on it

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Albuquerque, NM
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    Ditto to what Winfred said, smooth out any sharp edges of the dings & put the head on. My former e28 m20 chucked a belt at 75 mph, bent 5 intakes & 2 exhausts (or visa-versa) & put a few dings in the pistons. Had the shop rebuild the head & manually debur the tops of the pistons & she ran great for many 10's of k-miles afterwards. In fact it ran much smoother than before. The shop didn't see any need to mess with the crank.
    gale
    92 735i 5-spd, turbo project finally underway!


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    4,150

    Default Ditto to what Don and Winfred said,

    I would use more than a chisel though to knock off the raised area where the valve smacked, i'd use a file and some abrasive to make sure there aren't any sharp edges. Any edges left will lead to preignition or detonation, what you hear as ping or knocking. So don't leave any burrs or sharp edges sticking up.


  9. #9
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    Feb 2007
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
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    Ah, great thanks ya'll. I'm gonna go ahead and clean up the sharp edges a bit and smooth em out and call it done.. thanks alot!

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