6/3/2010
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Company: Egge Machine Co.
www.egge.com
Stainless Steel Valves for Vintage Domestics
Small-run Manufacturing Process Allows Enhanced Stock or Custom Valves to Precise Specifications
Egge’s machine shop in Santa Fe Springs, CA, now offers small-run valve
manufacturing for vintage domestic engines in custom and stock applications.
The manufacturing process starts with
hardened stainless steel blanks, which differ from the stock forged
steel valves. Stainless steel is much more stable and doesn’t stretch
or bend like forged steel under extreme heat/cool cycles and is more
stable over the life of the valve as well. Forged steel tends to lose
hardness in time.
Egge’s stringent quality assurance program
ensures a 90% “low-tolerance” for the valve stems.
For example, for a valve stem of .3725˝,
specifications state that the tolerance must fall between +0.0010˝
oversize and -0.0005˝ undersize. 90% of these Egge valves are at .3725˝ and the
other ten percent may fall within +0.0005˝ and -0.00025˝, falling within 50% of the tolerance gap noted in
the specifications.
Each valve is measured for concentricity, which is the consistent
measure of the seat angle to the shaft. The valve is laid in a device
to keep the shaft straight and a sensor is placed on the valve seat. A
slight spin to the valve notes any bumps or fluctuations of valve seat
circle diameter. The valve scope shows an enlarged silhouette of the
head to check the angle of the seat and the chamfer around the head.
“All
of this detail goes back to Egge doing smaller runs,” explains Egge spokesperson Tony Colombini. “With smaller
runs we are able to control the quality and have the opportunity to
really look at the product and make decisions, which help to keep the
tolerances low and the quality high."
For a free catalog of
domestic engine components and nostalgic performance parts for classic cars, call 800-866-3443 or visit www.EGGE.com for more information.