Stock Valves

[iamtall77]

Okay, so I'm starting to rebuild my 1G head, but I don't want to go overboard. I got the head with 2 bent valves that I need to replace. Should I just replace the 2 or all 16? And when I do, should I also replace all the valve guides? I don't want to replace anything I don't have to, but I want to make sure this thing will be okay. I do have new valve stem seals going in. Also, if I'm going to get all 16 valves, will stock ones be okay for 400-500hp on a "daily" driver? I know they should be good for that power level, but are SS valves cheap insurance, or more race only units? I'm staying with the stock springs right now until I upgrade to bigger cams. I just want to get the valve issue take care of so I have a running car.

[DSMxTSi]

Go with the stock size SS valves if you can afford them, otherwise just replacing the bent ones will be fine. I'd also go with a MLS headgasket while you're there.
Oversize valves will not do much good for that range of 400-500hp. They may actually hurt your power level.

[rlarsen]

I think I have about 6,345,287 factory valves laying around (used obviously, but they clean up nice with a hot tank and bead blaster, ask your machinist).

Honestly, you're better off just replacing the two factory valves with other factory valves if you don't have a ton of miles on the head and your valve springs are in good shape.

Some of the cheap-o SS valves that get peddled are probably worse than the factory ones (I'm not sure what the factory valves are made out of, come to think of it...they're probably SS).