sodium filled valves
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Rolla USA
sodium filled valves
Okay guys i bought a motor today its a 390 with 428 heads and sodium filled valves Came out of a pulling truck . Never heard of this so give me some insight on these heads Please. Really only wanted the block but Motor does run
Trouble
Trouble
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
sodium filled valves
The 428 had several different heads, three important things are:
valve size, exhaust bolt pattern, and port size. The chamber can be important for proper CR as well. The 428CJ heads have the bigger valves and larger runners. The standard 428 heads are the same as the 390 heads (C7AE-A, C8AE-H). Sodium valves are for handling heat and are not needed, but might be good to keep if in good condition.
The standard heads for the 390/390GT/428 are good up to 425HP and work well for street and mild perf use. The 428CJ heads with larger valves have a slower Air fuel charge and better for upper RPM. The standard heads work very well with a little port work and a duel pattern cam.
For a truck, the C7AE-A works very well and the C8AE-H will work well with proper piston match.
What's the casting numbers? and what is the application(RPM range, intake, carb, cam...)?
valve size, exhaust bolt pattern, and port size. The chamber can be important for proper CR as well. The 428CJ heads have the bigger valves and larger runners. The standard 428 heads are the same as the 390 heads (C7AE-A, C8AE-H). Sodium valves are for handling heat and are not needed, but might be good to keep if in good condition.
The standard heads for the 390/390GT/428 are good up to 425HP and work well for street and mild perf use. The 428CJ heads with larger valves have a slower Air fuel charge and better for upper RPM. The standard heads work very well with a little port work and a duel pattern cam.
For a truck, the C7AE-A works very well and the C8AE-H will work well with proper piston match.
What's the casting numbers? and what is the application(RPM range, intake, carb, cam...)?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,979
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From: Virginia
sodium filled valves
Where I work, we have a large forklift with a V8. It runs on
LPG gas and has sodium filled valves. I just want to alert you
that those valves may have a larger stem with larger valve guides. This may come into play if you decide to use/rebuild
the heads.
LPG gas and has sodium filled valves. I just want to alert you
that those valves may have a larger stem with larger valve guides. This may come into play if you decide to use/rebuild
the heads.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
sodium filled valves
Just thought I'd mention that the sodium-filled valves in those heads are known for breakage. Not that they are bad, just that they have a history...
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE390 @ 400hp(purt near!), 4-speed, custom suspension w 4" lift, black on black.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE390 @ 400hp(purt near!), 4-speed, custom suspension w 4" lift, black on black.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,686
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From: Racine WI
sodium filled valves
where i work our largest forktrucks have only straight 6's i wish we had a v-8 forklift 
but the one hyster has a pretty powerfull six and a two speed automatic that you have to shift manualy and it shifts oh so firm :-)
but the one hyster has a pretty powerfull six and a two speed automatic that you have to shift manualy and it shifts oh so firm :-)
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,979
Likes: 2,734
From: Virginia
sodium filled valves
We have three large Hysters. They are 22,500 lb lifts. The
two older ones have 350 Chevy motors, 4 bolt main, forged pistons
roller timing chain and the heads with sodium valves. The
newer Hyster has a big block chevy, I think it's a 366. They all have allison manually shifted three speed planetary transmissions. We have a yale with a Chrysler v6, and we
rented a lift one time that had a slant 6. Sorry to say, the
only Ford motor I've seen was in a tennant sweeper, a 1.6 liter
four cylinder.
two older ones have 350 Chevy motors, 4 bolt main, forged pistons
roller timing chain and the heads with sodium valves. The
newer Hyster has a big block chevy, I think it's a 366. They all have allison manually shifted three speed planetary transmissions. We have a yale with a Chrysler v6, and we
rented a lift one time that had a slant 6. Sorry to say, the
only Ford motor I've seen was in a tennant sweeper, a 1.6 liter
four cylinder.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 1
From: Racine WI
sodium filled valves
Man im pist you have 350's in yours that must be pretty fun to beat on our big hyster has sw power systems flathead 6 so does our big clark and our old fairly crappy yale has some type of flathead car type looking 6 looks like a gm not sure tho
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