So, I'm pretty sure my valve guide seals are leaking and I know this is pretty basic stuff, but I've never done it before so I was just wondering if this is something a novice can do or if it's better left to more experienced people.
If the seals do need replacing, I recommend you pull the head and take to a machine shop, do a valve and seat grind, seals, seats, retainer replacement and valve adjustment.
It doesn't cost that much.
It really can be surprising how much better a motor can run with a fresh valve job. I just had a sohc Ford head done a while back. I had new cam bearings put in, all new valves, valve guides, new exhaust valve seats, and a three angle valve job done. The guy even assembled the thing for me, all for $400. He had to grind a cam journal that was out of line from the rest slightly as well, and did so at no extra cost to me, even though I supplied the cam. It definitely pays to shop around though. No one else quoted me at under $800 for the job. The guy I ended up going to does not advertise, and is not even listed in the phone book. A guy in a gas station garage told me about him. I may be doing this myself soon. Previous owner did a head gasket on my 92 and I suspect it may be blown. I haven't had time to check it yet, but I have had to add coolant twice, and I don't see any on the ground.
^ Ditto. I took the head for my MR2 in, totally disassembled. I had the valve seats ground and he assembled the valve train with all new parts supplied by me and set the valve clearances. He charged me $175.00
That's a good deal. It's great if you can find somebody local.
Yeah, when he told me how much, he saw the surprised look on my face and told me since I had it totally disassembled and cleaned, it saved him alot of work.
Yeah, when he told me how much, he saw the surprised look on my face and told me since I had it totally disassembled and cleaned, it saved him alot of work.
This is encouraging... I love cleaning up all my parts, including ones I want to sell. I've been dreading the day I have to take my head & block to a shop to be worked on. Not so much now... but I guess it depends on how clean you got that head. What did you do to clean it up? I've used aircraft stripper to clean up parts before. Other than it being highly corrosive, it can do a great job at stripped down a valve cover, oil pump, etc.
I used Purple Power , rags and a toothbrush.But any degreaser will work.
It was easy with the valve train completely removed.I supplied the complete valve train, which were brand new, so he said it was very easy for him.
He resurfaced the head to block mating surface. You can see the work he did if you click on my cardomain link.
It was so purdy!
It would be wise to make sure the rest of your motor is squared away before you put too much time and money into it. All the work will be a waste if low oil pressure kills a cam bearing.
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