Are these exhaust valves shot?

[jmgtp]

The below pictures are a random sampling of 3 of my exhaust valves, the rest are similar.

There are HEAVY deposits on them, it feels/looks rocky almost. I soaked them in carb cleaner and picked at it a bit but its really on there - I'm sure there is a chemical or abrasive that can remove these deposits. My main concern though is whether these would be considered burned or otherwise damaged. To the naked eye the sealing part of the face looks pretty smooth, though it is completely covered in carbon.

The close up pics tell a bit more though. These are very hi-res but I think image shack is going to down the resolution on me.

http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3742.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=84256386.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53270450.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=69010512.jpg

I'd like to see what they look like cleaned up for a better idea on their condition, but I'm just not sure how to clean them? Carb cleaner did absolutely nothing. Even soaking them. How do you get them free of all the carbon and gunk?

Side note, I didn't pull the intake valves out of the head yet (my damn spring compressor decided it wanted to bend rather than compress springs!) but they don't have any of the rocky deposits, and looking down the intake port it looks pretty shiny. i think those will need a cleaning/lapping and be good to go.

[SappySE107]

use a wire wheel to clean up them more. There is too much carbon on them to really see.

[HayesPerformance]

LOL, What is bad is that I have seen a 3.4 dohc with valves far worse then that.

[ForcedFirebird]

Easy-off oven cleaner, or ZEP. Soak overnight and use a soft wire brush, they will look new. Cant see clearly if they need to be ground or not.

[jmgtp]

Judging by the 1 exhaust valve that I cleaned up, I think they are screwed.
I soaked it in parts cleaner, wire wheeled, and then lapped it in the old head. I lapped it maybe 4 or 5 times and it looks clearly pitted and I think I can even feel it with my finger. The pics tell the story, is it worth my time to keep lapping away in hopes of smoothing it out or would I just be wasting my time? Total time spend on this valve alone was maybe around 30 minutes to clean and lap.

http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3745.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3746.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3750.jpg

I also pulled and disassembled the rear head tonight, not any harder than the front - I even managed to not drop a single lifter. Not wanting to jack the car up again, I ended up pulling it with the exhaust manifold still bolted up. The intake valves on both heads look great. The exhaust valves on the front head look crappy and the exhaust valves on the rear head look not that bad. Either way, if I replace the front bank exhaust valves I'll spring for the extra and get new valves for the rear as well.

Side questions:
I kept the intake and exhaust valve springs separated just in case they are different. They look the same, can someone verify? Also, the question the back of my mind...what is everyone using to keep the lifters in place when reinstalling the cam carrier? Something thick like vaseline or will assembly lube work?

Your thoughts and replies are appreciated.
Thanks,
John

[pocket-rocket]

The Helms manual says stick some fuel hose in between the lifters from the valve cover side to wedge them in place. I put the carrier up against the head (exhaust side) upside down, and rotate it on while holding the intake ones in with my fingers. Doing it this way, I've hardly ever dropped any. Assembly lube is nice and sticky, so it might work though.

[jmgtp]

The Helms manual says stick some fuel hose in between the lifters from the valve cover side to wedge them in place. I put the carrier up against the head (exhaust side) upside down, and rotate it on while holding the intake ones in with my fingers. Doing it this way, I've hardly ever dropped any. Assembly lube is nice and sticky, so it might work though.

The GM service manuals mentions use of fuel hose too. I thought of it more like a funny joke that GM decided to put in the manual. I have some serious doubts that would work. I think I'm going to try assembly lube.

Anyone have anything definitive to say on the valves? If they look beyond what can be repaired via lapping I'm going to order new ones - I'd like to do so sooner than later, this car is due for E testing soon.

[jmgtp]

I decided they were no good. I got new ones, Federal Mogul Sealed Power. They are pretty.

They have a small dimple machined in the face of the valve, it is what shows up as the dark spots in the center of the exhaust valves in the picture. I don't know their purpose or there is any effect at all.



This things is 95% back together. It needs spark plugs, new studs for the front ex manifold, upper intake and oil.