kwae

Looking at this crv to buy? Think it is worth it? Got some pictures, looks to be in ok condition. 1999 5 speed 151k stalling issue (valves I am guessing). Thinking its totally worth 900.

MikesRJ

For $900 on a car worth about 2000, what do you have to lose but some time and a small amount of maintenance item cash?

BigBerz

For sure it's gonna be the infamous valve issue. Listen to the head and if it's loud the usual valve adjustments probably were neglected. For $900 you can't go wrong.

Berz out.

MikesRJ

I'd be more worried if the valves were quiet. Loose intakes will cause you far less grief than tight exhausts. The tight exhaust valves are what causes the most grief with the B20's head.

BigBerz

I thought the valve lash being loose was what caused the receding issue?

Berz out.

MikesRJ

Valves are cooled by sitting on the valve seat and releasing the heat to the head. Loose valves sit on the seat longer and are therefore cooler than a valve sitting out in the open flame longer with little time on the seat to release that heat. Sure, an overly loose valve will make a lot of noise, but you are damaging the cam or rocker arm, but not the valve itself. You can replace a cam or rocker arm in far less time than an entire head. The B20's exhaust valves tend to tighten over time, which effectively leaves it out in the flame and heat longer, with not enough time on the valve seat for cooling. This commonly results in a burnt valve (more times than not in cyl. #1), for which the P75 heads are notorious. Setting the intakes to 0.005" and the exhausts to 0.008" will rob you a little performance, but will certainly lengthen the life of the valves themselves given everything else is in good shape.