John,

Your right on re: = the sodium cooled valves... used them on Hi performance engines in the USCG in the 1970's. I also installed them in a 1974 Mercury Capri (German = Ford) 2 liter four. The valves preformed beautifully in combination with = several other mods that resulted in one very hot running four = banger...

GregK

"seadog"

----- Original Message -----

From: John Rodgers

To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM =

Sent: Wednesday, January 10, = 2001 12:13 AM

Subject: Re: True cost of AMC = heads for 1.9L and 2.1L: bare for $240 to$216!

Sodium filled valves are used fairly extensively on = bigger piston type aircraft engines. It's purpose is to aid in the = dissipation of heat from that portion of the valve that is in the combustion chamber = (valve face) up through the valve stem into the rocker space where the valve = stem contacts moving oil which scavenges the heat and transports it to the = oil cooler or other cooler parts of the engine.
No reason to think it wouldn't be desirable on smaller engines as = well. Even our beloved Wasserleakers.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Dave Baker wrote:
Sodium-filled valves. There's a neat = concept. Can anyone tell me why they would want to do this? Dave in KC (who is learning tons of new stuff from the = members on this list!)85 Westy http:/= /members.fortunecity.com/davebaker1/westy/westy.htm