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Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 3 2007, 09:34 AM

Over the past few months members of 914 World came through for me as I searched for parts for my F-Prod car. Good deals and even some freebies followed my desperate pleas for help. Now I'd like to give back to the community the best way I can, so I'm offering a wiz-bang deal on my value-added cylinder head service to the first 5 914 World members to PM me. I always give a 10% labor discount to members, but for this offer I'm slashing the regular $950.00/pair price to $800.00 (no added 10% discount). This is a turn key job and includes the following new parts parts and service.

-42mm x 36mm stainless valves
-Guides
-Seats
-Manton single springs
-Chromoly retainers
-Ground keepers
-HD rocker studs
-HD ex. studs

-Meticulous cleaning

-2 hours of casting crack/damage repair

-2.0 914 plug bosses are welded shut and new plug threads machined. No extra charge for 12mm threads, but must be requested as 14mm is the default. 1.7 and 1.8 threads repaired as needed.

-Machined for oversize valve seats with proper interference fit. Seats are hand blended to port bowl.
1.7 and 1.8's upgraded to 42 x 36 valves with bowl work performed to blend seats.

-Chambers hand deburred

-Rocker vent tubes replaced with welded billet tubes.

-Ex. stud bosses are machined for new step studs and oval counterbore is re-faced. No shortcuts taken here (or anywhere for that matter) If prior work has been done or bosses are damaged, they are removed and new ones welded in. Machine work is done on a Bridgeport mill using a fixture to ensure original factory fit.

-Damaged M5 and M6 threads repaired as needed

-Valve seats receive a radius cut using Serdi tooling

-Flycut and depth correction cut

-Valve stem ht's set to within .25mm, which is a 1/4 turn of an adjuster.

-All studs installed

-Chambers cc'd

-Assembled, bagged, boxed and shipped (shipping not included)

This is a true turn-key service that allows the customer to remove the heads from the box, inspect and install.

Options are available with this service like valve size upgrades, dual springs, extra port work, etc.

Heads must be in servicable condition and be free of hack work from previous shops, excessive damage from detonation or dropped seats or valves. Dropped seats that just turned sideways and stuck will be accepted.

A 50% deposit will be required when the heads are shipped and a committment to pay the balance within 2 weeks of notification that the head are ready.

I hope this helps some members keep their teeners running without breaking the bank. Cylinderhead work isn't cheap for these engines, so maybe this will come as a welcome oppurtunity for some folks.

I would prefer that members interested in this offer PM me for details and to make arrangements.
Thanks!
Len Hoffman

Posted by: ConeDodger Oct 3 2007, 09:49 AM

Len this is a great deal! I have one head off and the other has a stubborn cheesehead on the undertin. I have a new tiny vise grip sitting next to me. This motor is for Nicho who is 10 years old so we are not in a hurry
I will get them out to you when I get them off and packed...

Posted by: McMark Oct 3 2007, 11:16 AM

very cool of you Len. This is a great opportunity for 5 members.

Posted by: Borderline Oct 3 2007, 11:31 AM

That's a great deal! I know it sounds like a lot of money, but he is doing a lot of work ! I am very happy with the work Len did on my heads last year.

Thanks Len!

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 3 2007, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the kind words Bill. Glad you're happy with your heads. I aim to please!

Posted by: 914Sixer Oct 3 2007, 01:38 PM

Len does excellent work. I will post some pictures of the heads he did for me later.

Posted by: azbill Oct 3 2007, 03:36 PM

I also have a set of Len heads. The workmanship is excellent. and the heads produce Horsepower and torque. Between Len and Jake help I have a running car that puts you back into the seat (dyno at 140 Hp with 165 Ft/Lb.) I'm very happy.

Bill Shaffer

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 3 2007, 04:03 PM

Thanks guys! I enjoy this work. The best part is hearing that my customers are happy with their engines performance and ripping up asphalt!

Posted by: jaminM3 Oct 3 2007, 04:10 PM

PM sent, do you have 5 yet?

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 3 2007, 06:32 PM

I have 2 slots left now.

Posted by: crash914 Oct 3 2007, 07:12 PM

Go for it!

Great deal and reflects a lot of work.

Len, got my old heads ready yet?

Posted by: Bass Fisher Oct 3 2007, 08:16 PM

How long has your shop been around?

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 4 2007, 07:54 AM

I opened in '96.

Posted by: Lavanaut Oct 4 2007, 11:33 AM

Hi Len,

For the uninitiated, can you talk a little bit about what the benefits of having this service done would be? I have a stock '74 that runs great as-is. Could I expect a noticeable difference after having this work done?

Thanks for your time.

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 4 2007, 12:15 PM

Lavanut if your engine runs great now you won't see a very big improvement in performance unless you make other changes too. If it's running great and you don't want to make a cam change, I'd keep on driving it until it gives some indication it's time to do some work.

The one consideration you have to keep in mind is that from time to time even good running T4 engines toss a valve seat. Peace of mind would be the biggest benefit to pulling your heads from a good running engine and having this service done. You can help prevent this by installing a CHT guage and monitoring your CHT's. This might spark a CHT guage debate. If you are going to monitor just one cylinder, monitor #3. Westach makes a single guage that allows all four cylinders to be connected to one guage. I have driven a race car that had this and really liked it.

Over the years I have had lots of 1.8 and 2.0 914 heads come to me with an intake seat dropped and wedged sideways in the chamber of a head that showed no obvious signs of overheating. My hunch is that the seat fatiqued and the engine had a spike in temp. I have had seats fall out in my oven from just gravity when heated to 400*. I then measured the interference fit and every one I hve checked has been between .003" and .004", not enough. I have a hard time believing that VW installed the seats so loose. That is why I think the seats fatique over time and lose the ability to expand and contract with the head, eventually becoming static when exposed to heat.

As I said before, if it's running good and you aren't interested in making other upgrades I'd keep on motoring. Just keep an eye on your vitals!

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Oct 4 2007, 02:17 PM

I would be interested in this Len, if you can wait a few months. Is there a time window for this offer?

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 4 2007, 04:40 PM

Jeff the offer was supposed to be good for a week from the post time yesterday. But since I forgot to put that in the post, I'll accept heads shipped by next Thursday. Still have 2 slots open.

Posted by: solex Oct 4 2007, 09:18 PM

Len,
Does my order count?
Thanks,
Dan

Posted by: Lavanaut Oct 5 2007, 11:18 AM

QUOTE(HAM Inc @ Oct 4 2007, 11:15 AM)

Posted by: HAM Inc Oct 7 2007, 10:18 AM

We now have just 1 slot left and the deadline for shipping is Thursday the 11th. For the folks who have committed to this offer please make sure you meet this deadline as we are doing these heads in a batch run to economize time and maximize your savings.
Thanks!
Len