Stock Valve Guides vs Bronze
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Stock Valve Guides vs Bronze
Getting ready to yank the heads off my LT4 for some porting work. Since they have 73k miles on them, I'm going to have my machinist install new valve seals and valve guides. Here are my questions...
Any reason not to instruct my machinist to go with stock replacement valve guides? I hear/see stuff about "bronze guides" (and the extra $$). What do bronze valve guides really buy me? I'm more than happy to get 70k+ miles from another stock set. At the rate I'm currently putting miles on the car, I won't have to worry about guides again for 10-12 years :D
I'm thinking I'd rather apply the $100+ to track fees vs bronze guides but would appreciate everyones opinion :)
Thanks!
Any reason not to instruct my machinist to go with stock replacement valve guides? I hear/see stuff about "bronze guides" (and the extra $$). What do bronze valve guides really buy me? I'm more than happy to get 70k+ miles from another stock set. At the rate I'm currently putting miles on the car, I won't have to worry about guides again for 10-12 years :D
I'm thinking I'd rather apply the $100+ to track fees vs bronze guides but would appreciate everyones opinion :)
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Cupertino ca
Re: Stock Valve Guides vs Bronze (96GS#007)
To my understanding Bronze valve guides are "stronger" basically you get more life out of them, less prone to wear and tear... i guess you really have to think about what your lookin to get out of your engine.. if its not worth it to you dont bother... on my old camaro the guides went out after 12 years and i went with bronze, If your goin to be putting a "beefier" valve train you might consider to support the stress, look at it like this, your factory guides put up with 73,000 miles and are fine right? My LT4 is about to turn 79,000 miles and it runs great... im just waiting another 2 years... then im gonna pull the engine and built it from the crank up! :cheers: what ever you do enjoy the project
