May be a daft question but here goes:

My head gasket has gone on my daily driver, so the other night I whipped the head off and got it to the machine shop. All valves are straight and it's passed the pressure test. They're now going to chemical clean it, skim it and fit new stem seals and exhaust valve guides as they were apparently quite worn, then lap the valves back in and return it to me.

The question I have is; can I mount the base of the head to the block before fitting the cams, then put the cams in somewhere close to where their locked position would be and clamp down the carriers, then lock them properly before fitting the cambelt?
Or am I best fitting the cams and carriers with the head off the car and the cams in their locked positions then putting the head on?

Only reason I asked is that it seems like it could be a daft idea trying to put the head on when the cams are in as there's potential of catching a valve on the gasket/block when placing it down, and I don't fancy having any bent valves after this recent expense.

Cheers for any advice

Also, I assume the cam seals just tap in once the carrier is clamped down rather than placing it in the head then clamping the carrier down on top of it?

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Goldie the track car.

I assume were talking standard cams here? Personally I would put the cams in first with the seals and everything in place, lock them in position (if standard, otherwise time them up somewhere near),then place the head on the block. Again, assuming standard cams. the valves won't be open much and you'll really have to chuck the head on to hit them on the block. I've had the head on and off a block more times than I care to remember with 12mm lift cams in (timed to about 4mm and 3.5mm lift inlet and exhaust) and never hit them.

My reason for this is as Carl mentions; my main concern is the valves hitting each other more than the valves hitting the pistons, especially with higher lift cams in, and doing it all then placing the head on allows you to watch the valves so you don't clash.

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Oulton Park in a BTCC 306 vid 1
Oulton Park in a BTCC 306 vid 2
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I can see reasons for both, personally if the engines in the car I put the cams in after fitting the head, exhaust cam first as close to being the locking position as you can, fit the carrier then time up and lock the pulleys but it's all down to what u feel comfortable with.

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