Threaded Bronzewall Inserts

[miller]

Wondering if anyone in the Dallas/Sherman area knows of any engine machine shops around that have, and can install threaded Bronzewall inserts?

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, bronzewall inserts are used to repair valve guides on cast in guides like the type on stock mopar heads.

Know what a helicoil is? Something along the same lines. While re-working heads for an overhaul, the cast in valve guides are tapped, using the special tap, the threaded Bronzewall inserts are inserted, seated, and reamed to the right I.D.. It takes a small handful of special tools to install 'em.

I've had it done before, maybe 15-20 years ago. Using those things, valve stem clearances run about .0005 for intakes, .001-.0015 for exhaust. And, yeah, they worked great!
Cannot remember the guys last name, but the shop who installed them for me was part of the pro stock team, the driver named Bruce ??
That was in the Dallas/FW area, that many years ago. Their car has not ran for many years, so I'm sure that shop is gone, too.

I'm asking 'cause in the Sherman area (where I now live), no machine shop has ever heard of 'em.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Can't help you with anyone in your area, but that is not an uncommon repair method. A lot of shops will K-line them, which is a thin wall sleeve that gets pressed in with an air hammer. Goodson is an automotive machine tool supply house that sells this kind of stuff.

 

[69Bee]

They were called Bronze-Wall and Bronze-Wall 2 bushings. I had a 3/8" set for the first 5 years in business, and the only one to use it was me as a test on one head. Basically, I sold it on Ebay. I do not see the benefits of bronze for the street, and put cast back in all of my customers heads, unless they came with bronze originally.

 

[miller]

I suppose it's a usual response. Old-school stuff = no tango.
Guess I'm too old school. I know they work. Simply looking for someone in my area who can work with them. Not much for the so-called 'new and improved' stuff. Been there-done that.

I'll just keep looking. Thanks, guys.

Yeah, Goodson is the outfit.

- - - Updated - - -

Hehe. Guess I'd better add, that besides being flat hard-headed, kind had a fill of Jack, too.
Leave it at that. Frustrated.

 

[IQ52]

Have all the Winona Spiral Guide stuff here in Challis, Idaho.

 

[miller]

They were called Bronze-Wall and Bronze-Wall 2 bushings. I had a 3/8" set for the first 5 years in business, and the only one to use it was me as a test on one head. Basically, I sold it on Ebay. I do not see the benefits of bronze for the street, and put cast back in all of my customers heads, unless they came with bronze originally.

Right, those are the ones. I ran them on the street for 2 and a half years, while I had that car.
It's just how anyone sees things, the benefits were they 'saved' the cast-in guides, closer stem to guide clearances, and the threaded design allowed a little more oiling at the stem. And they can be used with the teflon seals.

69Bee ... do you recall when you tried the bronze-wall inserts, was it all hand work using the dif tools, or machine work involved?

 

[69Bee]

Right, those are the ones. I ran them on the street for 2 and a half years, while I had that car.
It's just how anyone sees things, the benefits were they 'saved' the cast-in guides, closer stem to guide clearances, and the threaded design allowed a little more oiling at the stem. And they can be used with the teflon seals.

69Bee ... do you recall when you tried the bronze-wall inserts, was it all hand work using the dif tools, or machine work involved?

I agree with you, it was just the area I am in, and what the customer base wanted. You can do it all by hand, but threading the guides will be a bitch doing all 16 by hand. I used a gear reduction drill with an adapter to drive the square shank of the cutter. It would be best to do it on a Seat & Guide machine though because you can apply the torque better to the cutter. Energy is lost when the head tries to move on you, and when the drill wants to twist in your hand. If you buy the tools from Goodson, ask for the 1/4" square drive adapter BW-442-G. I like this better than the other adapter because it is hex on the outside, and the chuck will hold it better without turning.

 

[miller]

Understand. That's great! On that same set of heads, 383 Hipo, that shop had installed the inserts, and I did all the rest, including cutting the tops of the guides to take the teflon seals, and putting hard seats on the exhaust.
I'll definately look at buying the tools, if that's the only way to get it done. Thank's for the heads-up on the Goodson tools. Their the only ones I'm familiar with.

Thanks, 69Bee!!