Do you need to remove the valves? Its about 10 years since I have had one done and cant remember.Ive looked at a few vids on Youtube and they all seem to have the valves still fitted.

Would make my life a lot easyer if I can leave them in to be honest.

 

I would remove the valves, so that you could make sure that the head is spotlessly clean afterwards when you re-build.

 

No, but make sure you get all the swarf out of every nook & cranny before sticking it all back together.

Personally, I'd insist on my staff removing & re-laping the valves,plus giving everything a jolly good clean off, you may as well do too, after all, the thing is in bits, so why not.

 

Im lazy and dont want to shell out on new valve stem oil seals.

 

They should be inc in head gasket kit old chap

 

Ill check if its warped when I remove it on saturday and decide what im going to do then I suppose.

 

Excuse my ignorance old bean, but what is this head off, looking at your signature picture one could surmise it's a CVH Ford?

If so skimming would be essential, plus fitting stem seals off the turbo would be highly beneficial, they last so much better than the normal ones.

 

Its on a clio. It hasnt got hot enough to boilt over so might get away without a skim. If it needs done ill get it skimmed sat morning.