whats a good way to check for bent valves while the head is off the car?
-without taking the valves out-

 

look at that and see if they are bent?

 

spray a fine oil or drip water wetter into all the intake and exhaust ports and let sit for 1 min or soo, then turn the head over and look in all the combustion chambers in the head for any signs that some fluid has leaked. theoretically if the valves are seating the shouldn't be bent. but even a slightly bent valve could still seat and cause wear on the valve guide eventualy

 

cool. looks like they are seating ok 'cause it doesnt leak when i put solvent in the ports.

 

windshield washer fluid works great too. its thin and cleans up really well.