Reinforced inlet valves SUPERTECH FORD Barra 4.0

FORD engines covered

The Barra is the 4.0 litre, 24-valve, double overhead camshaft inline six-cylinder engine designed by Ford Australia. It powered the Falcon BA, BF, FG and FG X, the Fairmont and Fairlane BA and BF and the Territory from 2002 to 2016, naturally aspirated (248 to 265 hp) or turbocharged (326 to 442 hp, XR6 Turbo and Sprint).

It has 12 inlet valves, two per cylinder. On the turbo versions, very popular with tuners, more boost, revs or lift put these valves under severe strain.

SUPERTECH reinforced inlet valves

Opened dozens of times per second at high rpm, the inlet valve lets the air through, strikes its seat again and slides in its guide. It works between 400 and 550 °C. A common chrome-silicon steel keeps only 500 MPa at 500 °C and 250 MPa at 600 °C, i.e. 50 % of its strength lost.

SUPERTECH forges this valve from EV8 (21-4N) stainless steel, which still holds 650 MPa at 500 °C, 30 % more than chrome-silicon steel, and 550 MPa at 600 °C, 120 % more. Black nitriding hardens the surface and limits wear on the stem and the guide. It keeps the standard size, with a single groove.

Inlet valve technical specifications

FFIVN-1050S-12: to be fitted with KPR-6T-ST collets (1 groove).

Valve fitting

These 1-groove valves are fitted only with KPR-6T-ST collets, never with the original ones.

Technical guide

The brand offered

SUPERTECH has been designing valvetrain parts for race engines in San Jose, California, for more than 30 years. Each valve model is developed for a given engine, checked by ultrasound, X-ray and laser, then proven in competition by engine builders.

When reinforced valves become necessary

• Raised boost pressure or bigger turbo
• Sharper camshafts or firmer valve springs
• Raised maximum rpm
• Cylinder head rebuilt for a circuit, drift or drag engine
• Original valves marked or worn

Vehicle compatibility