Head work cost?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Head work cost?
How much should I expect the machine shop cost to be to refurbish the 16 valve guides, replace one exhaust seat, and grind all the seats in a pair of 1970 small block cast iron Chevy heads? These are 3927186 heads with 1.94/1.50 valves.
The one exhaust seat is gone, but all the rest look okay, just the exhaust seats are a little wide. The intakes all look good. The one exhaust guide is gone also, but the rest of the guides are just marginally wide.
Thanks.
The one exhaust seat is gone, but all the rest look okay, just the exhaust seats are a little wide. The intakes all look good. The one exhaust guide is gone also, but the rest of the guides are just marginally wide.
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Have all the exhaust seats done while you're at it. So they won't wear differently and you'll have all hardened exhaust seats. Once the Guide and seat machine is set up it's easy to knock them all out at the same time. If it's in budget, I'd go for 1.6 exhaust. If you don't want to replace the worn guides, have them knurled anyway. Resurface and you'll have a set of heads that will last you a long time.
Needless to say, while thay are off and cleaned the valve job should be done.
Needless to say, while thay are off and cleaned the valve job should be done.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 776
Likes: 96
From: Plymouth MN
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I now have an engine at local machine shop - and they soaked me for the same job you are looking to have done 
... be sure to get an estimate in writing !!!
... be sure to get an estimate in writing !!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
I hear you, that is why I started this thread. I took my two heads to a local machine shop, here is the verbal estimate they gave me. To replace all eight exhaust valve seats, do all the guides, grind the seats, magnflux, and surface both heads, around $650!!! I thnk he missed it when I said this is a low budget rebuild?!?! I did not leave the heads there!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
You can get a set of heads already worked pretty cheap at eBay if you don;t mind aftermarket.
I have seen a set of Alum 2.02/1.60 complete for the low $600ish range.
Call around and get prices as the work can vary.
I have seen a set of Alum 2.02/1.60 complete for the low $600ish range.
Call around and get prices as the work can vary.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
When I bought my 70 350/350, it did not have the original heads. I looked around on Ebay until I found a set of corrrectly dated heads that were the large valve 350hp heads, so the seller said. When they arrived, it turned out they were the correct date and casting numbers, but they were 300hp heads with the small valves and pressed in rocker studs. Shipping cost was expensive since they are so large and heavy. So, I decided to try and make them work, even though they are the small valve heads. The machine shop I took the heads to refused to open them up to 2.02/1.60, saying there was not enough material in the head to do so. That is where I am right now.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
That price is in the ballpark. Put in new guides/seats they are going to have to do a valve job .Of course seals springs surface, etc. It adds up.
No way to really do it on a budget and have it right.
No way to really do it on a budget and have it right.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
thegazman
I spend $550 on my original heads; new guides, springs, surfacing, seals, etc. I feel I would have been better off adding a couple hundred dollars for a good set of after market heads.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 14
From: Lynn MA
longbros, what casting number do you have? pretty much any early small head, of the 1970 era can be brought out to 202s no problem...be curious to see what you bought
maybe the shop isnt the best, let us know the casting number, then maybe retrieve your heads and figure out the next move, which may involve bringing them to a new shop...
maybe the shop isnt the best, let us know the casting number, then maybe retrieve your heads and figure out the next move, which may involve bringing them to a new shop...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
longbros, what casting number do you have? pretty much any early small head, of the 1970 era can be brought out to 202s no problem...be curious to see what you bought
maybe the shop isnt the best, let us know the casting number, then maybe retrieve your heads and figure out the next move, which may involve bringing them to a new shop...
maybe the shop isnt the best, let us know the casting number, then maybe retrieve your heads and figure out the next move, which may involve bringing them to a new shop...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 14
From: Lynn MA
DEFINITELY can take 202s not a problem
Go to another shop, even if you have to drive or ship them...my 186 heads had 194s. I put 202s in them and as you mentioned they came both ways from the factory
Go to another shop, even if you have to drive or ship them...my 186 heads had 194s. I put 202s in them and as you mentioned they came both ways from the factory
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Covington, Virginia
My 72 SB had the X heads installed, with 1.94's...Did some detective work and found the flow data to be quite intriguing, Ssssooo...
I paid $750 to have screw in studs, bronze valve guides, hardened seats installed, 3 angle grind on new valves and new double springs...
I think the guy felt sorry for me....
Roanoke, VA
I paid $750 to have screw in studs, bronze valve guides, hardened seats installed, 3 angle grind on new valves and new double springs...
I think the guy felt sorry for me....
Roanoke, VA
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
My 72 SB had the X heads installed, with 1.94's...Did some detective work and found the flow data to be quite intriguing, Ssssooo...
I paid $750 to have screw in studs, bronze valve guides, hardened seats installed, 3 angle grind on new valves and new double springs...
I think the guy felt sorry for me....
Roanoke, VA
I paid $750 to have screw in studs, bronze valve guides, hardened seats installed, 3 angle grind on new valves and new double springs...
I think the guy felt sorry for me....
Roanoke, VA
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
Around here that's a bit high. I'd still get the 1.6s I wouldn't worry about the 2.02s unless you intend to trun 6,000 or more often. The 1.94s will work for you. Prices range in different parts of the country and states. In northern Ohio machine prices seem to be higher by 30% or so over southern Ohio. So I'd shop around for somemore prices. Make some calls. Seems like you know what you're looking for.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,680
Likes: 3,134
From: Shamong, NJ
A friend of mine here in South Jersey, just had a pair of 327/300 heads done for his 62 Super Sport. He paid $800 for the job! The guy who did them is meticulous, and is well known for doing first class work, but I thought that was pretty steep.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Covington, Virginia
I also spent the time to port/polish and cc'd the combustion chambers and intake ports, gasket matched the exhaust ports
The "X" ....lots of myth/speculation about these guys, 186X is the casting designation, the port runners were modified to make it flow a little better. Several websites have these heads as replacements for the double hump heads, only with better breathing. Do a little research on the 186, 461 and the 041, saw several flow tests and the "X" heads flowed just a little less than the 2.02's of the 70's....and with the 1.94's you don't get that dreaded crack between the int-exh holes...the 1.94's have more meat between the valves.
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13578
has some pretty impressive dyno figures using the 186/461/041, etc..
Last edited by mobjack68; Nov 23, 2011 at 08:14 AM.