88 2.5 rebuild (Page 2/7) theogre OCT 30, 06:47 PM down grade for V belts? is bad move. V belts can't use harmonic balancer and w/o that can kill timing gear and balancer/pump. Is part of why timing gears die. just use new tensioner and harmonic balancer. Zeak OCT 30, 07:21 PM I'm not down grading to v-belts. Just going to find the same belt that I have now only shorter. I'll use the stock tensioner without the pulley to cap off the hole in the block. I'm not trying to build a racecar here. I just want to be able to drive to work and not haft to replace the tensioner in another 80k. Zeak NOV 02, 11:11 PM Some more digging. My poor little duke is so dirty..... T-T (also my harbor freight vice called it a day) Jims88 NOV 03, 07:36 PM Good luck with your engine build; how many miles were on the old Duke? My Harbor freight vice does this once a year TopNotch NOV 03, 09:55 PM Since you no doubt need new valves and re-conditioned seats, have a machine shop check the head for cracks. Mine had a small one when I rebuilt my 88 duke, so I got a later model head (better flowing). See this thread for more on my rebuild. Zeak NOV 04, 06:24 AM quote Originally posted by Jims88: Good luck with your engine build; how many miles were on the old Duke? Thanks. It just rolled over to 180k. quote Originally posted by TopNotch: Since you no doubt need new valves and re-conditioned seats, have a machine shop check the head for cracks. Mine had a small one when I rebuilt my 88 duke, so I got a later model head (better flowing). See this thread for more on my rebuild. I plan on doing that. Just haft to get all the gunk off first. lol hcforde NOV 06, 03:03 AM So I guess I will be getting a vise elsewhere. Maybe the old Wilton's ARE worth the money. Thanks for the headsup! Zeak NOV 06, 10:40 AM Tried to clean up my old valves. All 4 of the exhaust ones are shot. New ones will be in within 4 days.... The head was checked over and aside from LOTS of carbon buildup. Its in good shape. Still trying to source a proper shield for the coil assembly. Gall757 NOV 06, 11:25 AM It may be a camera trick...but look at that wear on the shaft. It looks like .010! Zeak NOV 06, 04:17 PM I think that's just some sort of coating they put on the valve. The more narrow point measures the same as the top and bottom of where the keepers go on the other end. I'll compare them to the new ones when they come in.