I recently got a call asking what was the reasonable cost of a valve job.
the truth is that any good machine shop will inspect the heads after cleaning them, and ask you a few questions and only then be able to give you a price.
I would be very suspicious of any shop that quoted a simple flat rate for "VALVE JOBS" theres just too many things that could be required for a flat rate to be valid
If you were to ask, Id say that in most cases I find your average valve job requiring minimal parts will cost you in the area of between $200 to $300 for two V8 cylinder heads, if they require welding, more parts, extensive machine work, expect prices to increase.
Ive had several sets of cylinder heads machined and welding done to repair damage and I have probably averaged near $275 for valve jobs in the last two years, but that in no way indicates what your local machine shop will charge, if your heads require extensive work like new valve guides and valve springs . $400-$600 or more could easily be reached or exceeded thats why you get a quote before proceeding with all the work priced out and listed in detail. in a few cases it will be cheaper to buy new heads rather than proceed with the older heads
new valve seals of the same type the heads come with should be included in the cost quote, if you need new valve springs, different parts, valve spring seats machined or re-shimmed, new valve spring retainers,valve keeper etc. expect costs to go up
now obviously theres a huge variation in both whats being done, or what needs to be done to a set of heads, the condition they are in, if they are aluminum or cast iron, and what needs to be machined, replaced or repaired and the skill of the machine shop operator and the quality of the work being done and in many cases the quality of the parts being used.and keep in mind aluminum heads are generally far easier and cheaper to repair, especially if welding to repair damage is required[/color]
ITS CRITICAL you have a long detailed discussion with your machine shop and get WELL DOCUMENTED WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, THAT SPELL OUT COSTS, WHAT WORKS TO BE DONE,WHEN THEY WILL BE COMPLETED AND THAT YOU TAKE CLEAR DETAILED ,BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF THE CYLINDER HEADS, ITS ALSO A VERY GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THE HEADS STAMPED WITH A PERSONAL ID NUMBER[/b]
Aluminum does have advantages, like light weight, and easy of machining compared to cast iron, example,cracks in valve seats on iron heads ",usually the result of overheating,"tend to result in coolant leaks that are not easily repaired, so you need a new cylinder head even if you had hundreds of dollars in port work done previously.
but on aluminum heads a bit of tig welding and machining for new valve seats repairs the heads rather easily
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0 ... to_06.html
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... gines.aspx
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... pdate.aspx
http://www.powerblocktv.com/episodes/HP ... wer-how-to
http://www.aera.org/engine-professional ... echnology/
http://www.precisionenginetech.com/tech ... ns-part-2/
heads might need to be milled to make then strait
valve springs may need to be replaced
valve guides may need to be knurled or guides replaced
valve seats may need to be machined or replaced
cracks in the head might require welding
rocker studs might need to be milled, threaded or replaced
valves might need to be replaced or just cut or the valve seats cut and lapped.[/color][/b]
replacing worn valve guides
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2003/12 ... ditioning/
http://www.calgaryfieros.com/OSGdocs/va ... seals.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR8cDaum7ss
http://www.hthoward.co.uk/engine-machin ... -sleeving/
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/New%20LS%20Lin ... inding.htm
related threads, with info you might need
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the truth is that any good machine shop will inspect the heads after cleaning them, and ask you a few questions and only then be able to give you a price.
I would be very suspicious of any shop that quoted a simple flat rate for "VALVE JOBS" theres just too many things that could be required for a flat rate to be valid
If you were to ask, Id say that in most cases I find your average valve job requiring minimal parts will cost you in the area of between $200 to $300 for two V8 cylinder heads, if they require welding, more parts, extensive machine work, expect prices to increase.
Ive had several sets of cylinder heads machined and welding done to repair damage and I have probably averaged near $275 for valve jobs in the last two years, but that in no way indicates what your local machine shop will charge, if your heads require extensive work like new valve guides and valve springs . $400-$600 or more could easily be reached or exceeded thats why you get a quote before proceeding with all the work priced out and listed in detail. in a few cases it will be cheaper to buy new heads rather than proceed with the older heads
new valve seals of the same type the heads come with should be included in the cost quote, if you need new valve springs, different parts, valve spring seats machined or re-shimmed, new valve spring retainers,valve keeper etc. expect costs to go up
now obviously theres a huge variation in both whats being done, or what needs to be done to a set of heads, the condition they are in, if they are aluminum or cast iron, and what needs to be machined, replaced or repaired and the skill of the machine shop operator and the quality of the work being done and in many cases the quality of the parts being used.and keep in mind aluminum heads are generally far easier and cheaper to repair, especially if welding to repair damage is required[/color]
ITS CRITICAL you have a long detailed discussion with your machine shop and get WELL DOCUMENTED WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, THAT SPELL OUT COSTS, WHAT WORKS TO BE DONE,WHEN THEY WILL BE COMPLETED AND THAT YOU TAKE CLEAR DETAILED ,BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF THE CYLINDER HEADS, ITS ALSO A VERY GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THE HEADS STAMPED WITH A PERSONAL ID NUMBER[/b]
Aluminum does have advantages, like light weight, and easy of machining compared to cast iron, example,cracks in valve seats on iron heads ",usually the result of overheating,"tend to result in coolant leaks that are not easily repaired, so you need a new cylinder head even if you had hundreds of dollars in port work done previously.
but on aluminum heads a bit of tig welding and machining for new valve seats repairs the heads rather easily
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0 ... to_06.html
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... gines.aspx
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... pdate.aspx
http://www.powerblocktv.com/episodes/HP ... wer-how-to
http://www.aera.org/engine-professional ... echnology/
http://www.precisionenginetech.com/tech ... ns-part-2/
heads might need to be milled to make then strait
valve springs may need to be replaced
valve guides may need to be knurled or guides replaced
valve seats may need to be machined or replaced
cracks in the head might require welding
rocker studs might need to be milled, threaded or replaced
valves might need to be replaced or just cut or the valve seats cut and lapped.[/color][/b]
replacing worn valve guides
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2003/12 ... ditioning/
http://www.calgaryfieros.com/OSGdocs/va ... seals.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR8cDaum7ss
http://www.hthoward.co.uk/engine-machin ... -sleeving/
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/New%20LS%20Lin ... inding.htm
related threads, with info you might need
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=462&hilit=porting+help
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=5053&p=28837&hilit=finding+machine#p28837
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=8460&p=29682&hilit=seat+curtain+valve#p29682
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=401&p=6078&hilit=vortec+machining#p6078
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=181&p=7684&hilit=machining+vortec#p7684
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=6175&p=19304&hilit=machining+vortec#p19304
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=529&p=27299&hilit=machining+vortec#p27299
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3143&p=8387&hilit=seat+curtain+valve#p8387
http://maliburacing.com/patrick_budd_article.htm
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=2630&p=13142&hilit=seat+curtain+valve#p13142
http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairq ... 054_1.html
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=10728