The springs that I was looking at getting are on the Toyota Performance page under "RV Springs" on engnbldr's website. They are not the double spring design, so that's good. I was thinking about this more this morning, and wondering if I really need to replace the springs. I am going to get the cam and a new rocker arm set, but do I really need to replace my 130,000 mile valve springs? I think it might be a good idea-- but if the stock springs can handle the RV cam, then why change them? Will I run into problems later on? I've always heard to change rocker arms with a new cam because of the wear patterns that develop on the rocker arms, but I haven't heard much said about it being absolutely necessary to change the valve springs. Thoughts?

Shoot, no replaceable cam bearings? I learned something new today! I probably would have figured it when I took the cam off the head, but that's good to know. I have definitely learned a lot so far-- and that's just the disassembly phase! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

My birthday was... let's just say a lot of fun! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> My wife made some Mexican food and bought me a six pack of Dos Equis to go with it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> She's a good woman!

On the springs having 130K miles on them, if they are sound, still stand squarly against a square edge and have retained their "boing" (tech term) they should be fine. Only reason I had new springs installed in the Street RV head is because...well umm the entire thing was brand new.
Talk to Ted about it, he wont sell you something that you dont need...cool thing about him. Heres a picture of the Street RV just prior to install...purdy aint it?


On rocker arms, at minimum its important to have them checked, some are fine and some can be resurfaced. To be 100% absolutely sure and retain that warm fuzzy feeling inside...replace them.
I had 2 sets checked by Tod and Greg while at the shop doing the head...both came back with A+'s. So I used them and things have been "swell".
Only bad thing about no cam bearings is if ya score the "bearing area" there aint no slip on fix. You'll see how it all works when you pull things apart.
If any questions, ya know where to find me.
~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

PS- glad ya had a good birthday hehehe, my wife knows better than to make Mexican dinner if there is any form of mattress dancing planned for that evening.

Pulled the valve springs and valves out this afternoon, and removed the cam. I started cleaning the head up with kerosene and engine degreaser, and man-- this could take an eternity!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> I'm using a small brass brush right now, and will probably need to get some others of various shapes. Are there any other tricks to gettin' this thing clean? I know it's not going to be like your new head in that pic, Darin, but I would at least like to get all the crap off. I'm having a lot of dark spots on the mating surface (* now that's a tech term!) of the head to the block that are not coming off. I don't want to get too aggressive with it because I don't want to marr the surface of the head. Just lookin' for a little extra help here if there is any!! Don't want to spend the whole week cleaning the head, and then the next whole week cleaning the intake manifold, yadda yadda yadda...

Thanks--

Acid-based aluminum cleaner worked like a charm for me.

Spay on, brush deposits, rinse off.

I don't know the name... Got it from my buddy's shop. Could ask him tomorrow, though.

I'll go out and take a picture of one that I cleaned up myself. Dark spots on the mating surface? How dark? If its remnants of gasket material, use a scraper...just hold it at an angle that will keep it from gouging the aluminum. Another good cleaner is carb or brake cleaner...spray it on heavy and wipe with rag using plenty of pressure. There will be nooks and crannies on the exterior that wont come clean due to the porousity (is that a word?) of the casting...no biggie though. Your main concern is the deck and the combustion chambers. Keep it at...one thing is for certain- not a small quick job.
~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

[img]http://imageshack.us/host/cylhead2.JPG.php[/img]

[img]http://imageshack.us/host/cylhead3.JPG.php[/img]

Thats it...I quite with this picture Bullshrimp. Why does it have to be sooo freakin difficult? Time to take advantage of our webpage thing that comes with our cable-net service...And find a stupid class to teach idiots how to work their new computers and gadgets. Grrrrr

How's this?
If you right click on the image, then hit properties, it
changes the middle of the url to ...us/files/cyl... from ...us/host/cyl... and drops the ".php". Use that to link
from the site!

And next time you upload, change the max with of the pic to
600, to keep it in the screen.<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Yes, DRTDEVL, I would be pleased to know that name of that cleaner! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the pics Darin-- I didn't want to sound like another name for a kitty cat, but I had just started to get the first combustion chamber lookin' good after about 2 hours of scrubbing. And then my engineer mind extrapolated how long it would take to do the whole head based on this experience, and I decided it was time for dinner. I just know how soft aluminum is, and I'm a little bit tenative on using anything sharp or hard on it. I did buy some brake parts cleaner today, so I'll give that a shot tomorrow. Seeing that fist picture of your head gives me some hope. I think most of the dark spots I'm still seeing is old gasket material. And yes-- porosity is a word. Casting foundries know it very well!

Thanks again for the help guys. You all have been more help than you know, and a couple of cold ones would be coming your way if you were in the Atlanta area. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

BTT for DRTDEVL's especial acid-based cleaner. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Alumi-Brite Harsh. Hard to find on the 'net, but I am on dialup here at work.

Short description of the 3 levels of Alumi-Brite