Approximate cost for Valve guide seals?

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Mar 21, 2005 | 12:15 AM

blackthumbz

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Instructor

Joined: Jan 2005

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From: Hernando FL

Approximate cost for Valve guide seals?

86 vette with around 78,000. Upon early morning starts..or after car has sat 4 plus hours..when starting..an ignorant puff of grey smoke comes out exausts and embarrases the sh.. out of me. Upon talking to my lazy alcoholic mechanic buddy...he says " its the valve guide seals...all old chevys do it. No big deal..all mechanics know its a waste of time to fix..just leave it alone. Its a real pain to fix..and its not hurting anything" He says he wont be bothered fixing it..unless i pay a grand for the work. He whined " It involves a special tool..so it blows a little smoke..its just a little oil burnin off" So as you can see...living in a one horse ,redneck town in Florida..I could use any opinions on prices to get this fixed. Generally with the help of this forum..i try to fix stuff myself..but i think this job is out of my league. My car is really in great shape..vettes have always been my passion..and this starting smoke ..has got to go.

Mar 21, 2005 | 12:44 AM

Corvette0096

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Joined: Aug 2000

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From: Vancouver,Wa.

The guy is off his rocker... Takes about 4 hours max. I would say $300 would be a fair price. The only time consuming part would be taking the driver side valve cover off.

Mar 21, 2005 | 01:28 AM

cv67

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From: altered state

St. Jude Donor '05

A grand to fix? If you have access to a compressor, or even a rope, you can do it yourself. Its actually very simple.

Edit: being as you'll have the springs off anyway, why not throw some 1.6 rockers and springs on while your'e at it?

Last edited by cv67; Mar 21, 2005 at 01:39 AM.

Mar 21, 2005 | 01:37 AM

65Z01

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From: SE NY

Cruise-In II Veteran

For around $60 you can buy a seal set from your local Chevy dealer, the piece of rope will cost about $.69 at Lowe's and the valve spring compressor will run maybe $29 at Sears...not really any "special tools" involved here.

It's only "not worth it" if you aren't embarrased when your Vette blows a cloud of blue smoke on startup.

If it's your first time in there allow a weekend to replace the seals and set the valve lash, working carefully.

Mar 21, 2005 | 03:28 AM

AGENT 86

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Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Summerland B.C. Canada

I did my seals when i installed my roller rockers. I had the puff on start up and it also bothered me. I bought 16 felpro viton intake seals for less the $60 cad. No more puff

Mar 21, 2005 | 08:59 AM

MrNuke

Le Mans Master

Joined: Apr 2000

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From: Shelton CT

Also another idea to add to the mix..

I used to have the same thing on my '85, but after I replaced the intake, even though never touched the valves/valvetrain, have not had ANY smoke during startup in over a 1 year.. Something to ponder.. Maybe it is not always valve guide seals. (That's what I was told by a mechanic too I'd have to replace)..

Mar 22, 2005 | 06:31 AM

wake

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From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...

Figure about $300-$500 to replace... I belive it was $500 at a GM dealership on my old IROC (Same TPI motor)...

It's not hard, they just have to remove the springs to change the seals...