Valve Job pricing assist
03-16-2009, 12:59 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Valve Job pricing assist
My mechanic has spent the last two weeks soaking my SAI passages with carb cleaner etc. to little avail, and (at 141k miles) it looks like a top end job is in my near future. So time to research my options. My tech says it normally runs around $8k
- But he'll do mine for around $6k. I recall reading about a well-known guy somewhere in the New England area that'll do it for $3K - which sounds perhaps too good to be true. Search function here is excruciatingly crap lately and I can't find any reference to it, but does anyone with a better memory than I recall info that fits that description? Any help (that might save me $3k) would be much appreciated!
- But he'll do mine for around $6k. I recall reading about a well-known guy somewhere in the New England area that'll do it for $3K - which sounds perhaps too good to be true. Search function here is excruciatingly crap lately and I can't find any reference to it, but does anyone with a better memory than I recall info that fits that description? Any help (that might save me $3k) would be much appreciated!
03-16-2009, 02:14 PM
#3
RL Technical Advisor
Matt,
If I might add,.......
Having done a few of these,........ $6K is a good deal for a proper job. Naturally, labor rates vary widely so that needs to be factored but knowing what I know about this process, I get suspicious about what kind of a job is done for $3K.
JHMO, of course.
If I might add,.......
Having done a few of these,........ $6K is a good deal for a proper job. Naturally, labor rates vary widely so that needs to be factored but knowing what I know about this process, I get suspicious about what kind of a job is done for $3K.
JHMO, of course.
03-16-2009, 02:28 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
My mechanic has spent the last two weeks soaking my SAI passages with carb cleaner etc. to little avail, and (at 141k miles) it looks like a top end job is in my near future. So time to research my options. My tech says it normally runs around $8k - But he'll do mine for around $6k. I recall reading about a well-known guy somewhere in the New England area that'll do it for $3K - which sounds perhaps too good to be true. Search function here is excruciatingly crap lately and I can't find any reference to it, but does anyone with a better memory than I recall info that fits that description? Any help (that might save me $3k) would be much appreciated!
- But he'll do mine for around $6k. I recall reading about a well-known guy somewhere in the New England area that'll do it for $3K - which sounds perhaps too good to be true. Search function here is excruciatingly crap lately and I can't find any reference to it, but does anyone with a better memory than I recall info that fits that description? Any help (that might save me $3k) would be much appreciated!
03-16-2009, 02:29 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Thanks Trintony - I think you are right. I PMd Vic.
- Steve, I agree, $3k sounds too good to be good. My tech says it's a 40 hour job, which equals $3600+/- before paying for heads re-machining, new guides, rings, seals etc...
He said it would normally run $8k-9K but would do it for $6K because I am such a likeable guy As you know, my income is derived almost solely from the newspaper business 
so I am looking for the best deal I can squeeze without compromisng quality.
- Steve, I agree, $3k sounds too good to be good. My tech says it's a 40 hour job, which equals $3600+/- before paying for heads re-machining, new guides, rings, seals etc...
He said it would normally run $8k-9K but would do it for $6K because I am such a likeable guy
As you know, my income is derived almost solely from the newspaper business so I am looking for the best deal I can squeeze without compromisng quality.
03-16-2009, 02:41 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
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03-16-2009, 02:42 PM
#8
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Exotech in Plaistow, NH (Mark Nadler) can knock it out for $3500~ assuming there are no other issues. He did my 993 which was VJD3's old car and if I'm not mistaken he did Vic's current 993. I have been delighted with the work that Mark has done for me. While location will not roll your socks up and down, he knows what he is doing. He's about a 2.5 hour drive from you and well worth the trip.
And how far from MD, since I may need it in few years?
if I don't sell before..
03-16-2009, 02:51 PM
#10
RL Technical Advisor
I would investigate the source of the valve noise and see if its due to lifters, worn rockers, or valve guides before I did anything.
I'd also recommend a leakdown test before committing to installing new rings. You may only need guides and perhaps, exhaust valves.
03-16-2009, 02:56 PM
#11
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Rennlist Member
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How do you suggest measuring oil consumption when it is also tracked? I don't get more than about 500 miles between track days these days, so oil consumption is a bit tricky to measure. I'm at almost 130k mi and regularly DE, so starting to wonder...
03-16-2009, 03:06 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Steve, I have a CEL with blocked SAI ports, so can't get past emissions testing, otherwise I'd leave well alone until the car started using more oil. I have replaced exhaust lifters, so I'm sure the noise I'm hearing is exhaust guides. I have a few oil leaks, so was thinking of maybe dropping the engine anyway for some resealing work...And you know the drill: if it's sitting on the bench anyway...
Otherwise, the car runs exquisitely.
Otherwise, the car runs exquisitely.
03-16-2009, 03:37 PM
#13
Drifting
2-3K to a quart is very good. Normally, we don't recommend a top-end until oil consumption reaches 800 miles/qt.
I would investigate the source of the valve noise and see if its due to lifters, worn rockers, or valve guides before I did anything.
I'd also recommend a leakdown test before committing to installing new rings. You may only need guides and perhaps, exhaust valves.
I would investigate the source of the valve noise and see if its due to lifters, worn rockers, or valve guides before I did anything.
I'd also recommend a leakdown test before committing to installing new rings. You may only need guides and perhaps, exhaust valves.
03-16-2009, 03:53 PM
#14
RL Technical Advisor
Steve, I have a CEL with blocked SAI ports, so can't get past emissions testing, otherwise I'd leave well alone until the car started using more oil. I have replaced exhaust lifters, so I'm sure the noise I'm hearing is exhaust guides. I have a few oil leaks, so was thinking of maybe dropping the engine anyway for some resealing work...And you know the drill: if it's sitting on the bench anyway...
Otherwise, the car runs exquisitely.
Otherwise, the car runs exquisitely.
Hi Matt,
Understood about the SAI passages.
We enlarge these during head servicing to help prevent recurrance (along with using our own guides).Be careful about installing new rings as oftentimes, they fail to seat properly in original cylinders due to improper preparation and cylinder ovality. Thats why I recommended a leakdown to see if yours are still good.
03-16-2009, 06:49 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
As I recall, you're not going to see the oil consumption that you would if it were the intake guides. IMHO, echoing what Steve W. said, your engine doesn't seem to be that far gone. I'd certainly try the guitar string/rotor-rooter method on the SAI system b4 committing to an engine pull.