Scuba Steve

I called up the engine shop that was recommended by somebody here and got a couple of rough quotes. To bring in a head, have it checked out, cleaned up, and whatnot is around $110. To repair my head looks to be around $210 + parts (4 intake valves and guides most likely), if I understood the person on the phone right . Does this sound good?

Now the other option getting the head from another car. I'm in Texas, and I have no idea how much it'd be to ship something like that over here. Anyway I'd take it in to be checked out for sure. Any thoughts on that option?

CPTdooberhead

yes, thats about what I payed for my 951 head to be rebuilt last time I had it done...

daniel951

what exactly do they do to the head when they port and polish it. I just had my head redone with valves etc.. but i now i want to have it port and polished. Would it cost around the same price or would be cheaper since i have the other stuff alrady installed. I am interested in pricing also if anyone knows?

hoffman912

you guys are lucky.. looks like it will be close to 2k to have mine done

Jakerx

with 8 new valves, 8 new springs, and what not mine cam to 1550

hoffman912

who did the work on your heads Jake? im sending mine to competition engineering, anyone know if they do machine work on watercooled engines?

streckfu's

Harry and Jake,
I think the difference is that Steve is removing the head while it seems you guys let the shop do it. $1500 seems right to have a shop do the labor.

Travis - sflraver

If you supply the parts it should be around $200.

hoffman912

no, im removing the heads myself. i do as much labor as i can myself. i can remove a motor in about an hour on my car. i can have the heads off in about 2. (after you remove all sheet metal, carbs, manifolds, rocker assembelies etc)

im talking about approx 2k in labor -machine work, fixing any imperfections, installing guides, valves, seats, springs, making sure everything is right. oh and they will recondition the rocker arms too..

http://www.competitioneng.com/Heads.htm

Charlotte944

The shop I use here in Charlotte charges a flat $168.00 per head with a 3 day turn around. This includes disassembly, cleaning, checking valve guides, valve springs, valves, valve seats, and checking for warpage.

Installing new valve guides and seals is an additional $20.00 (I supplied the parts), and having a broken extractor removed and two exhaust stud holes repaired was an additional $40.00 (He had to buy a new carbide bit), so my total was $228.00.

If you want a "new" head, my guy has a turbo head sitting on the shelf. From what he's told me the head was brought in to be race prepped and was never picked up. I've seen it, and its a nice piece of workmanship.

I don't know what he's asking, 'cause I could never pin him down, but it ain't going cheap.

If you want, you can give him a call at 704-393-8806. The shop is Sellers Auto Machine, and the guy's name is Jeff.

hoffman912

well i took mine to a local guy this past spring, who charged 150 a head plus parts. as you can see, somthing went wrong (read.. im pissed as hell), so im going to have them sent to competition, specializes in porsche's. ill be paying an arm and a nut, but at least i know they will be done right.

lilredpo

FYI...make sure your quotes are comparable and include a 3-angle grind, not 2 angle.

Good luck!

Scuba Steve

-Call back and ask about the angle grind: got it
Also need to find out what shipping would be... anybody happen to know what a head off one of these cars would weigh?

It looks like taking my head in would total around $300 including 4 intake valves and guides. Lower if I can find the parts for less (recommendations are welcome!).

Uranium-235

$300 isn't bad at all. Do you get any kind of a guarantee with the work? The head weighs maybe 30 pounds, if that. My parts should be in today, hopefully we get the head back togther by the weekend and start the reassembly. I am waiting on new washers and nuts for the head, from the dealer. I have to do axles in my Suburban tonight, the wife's Jeep needs an oil change, the Sebring needs detailing and the grass is getting tall again, plus I have to finish the pond and the two or three plant beds. Ugh.

lilredpo

Two local Porsche repair shops here in New England both told me they send their head work to a place in So Cal, but I don'y know where.

SoCal Driver is probably a very good source for suggestions.

Good luck.