A sample of titanium valves in blank form. Stems have been machined to near-final diameter and the heads are rough formed, prior to CNC machining. Photo courtesy Xceldyne A variety of specialty coatings can be applied to valves to enhance specific properties such as lubricity, resistance to wear and thermal performance. Photo courtesy Xceldyne A [...]
SODIUM-FILLED VALVES Sodium-filled valves feature stems that are precision-gun-drilled and filled with a specially formulated sodium. This achieves weight reduction (the result of the gun-drilling to create a hollow stem) and better heat dispersion. There is some debate concerning the efficiency of this heat transfer due to concerns that the heat transfer to the guides [...]
VALVE MATERIALS AND DESIGNS Choosing the correct valve for specific applications by Mike Mavrigian both photos by author Choosing the optimum valve for a specific application can sometimes be confusing considering the various choices available today. In this article, we attempt to explain the various materials and designs in an effort to better understand today’s [...]
CAMSHAFTS All LS series camshafts are of the roller style. The LS series of engines utilize a camshaft timing sensor. To provide a signal to the sensor, 1997-2004 LS engines feature a machined reluctor on the camshaft, located immediately in front of the No. 5 main cam journal. Camshafts from 2005 and later eliminate this [...]
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