HG Advice. Valve job or not

[jimfitz99]

I bought a 94 FZJ-80 w/ 167k on the ticker that had overheated on the previous owner. I paid 2k for the truck. The radiator had pin hole leaks at the overflow tube at the cap and at the 90 degree bend at the reservoir. I will be replacing these parts but just jb welded them so i could run the engine to determine if it was the HG or not. So got it running and sure enough i got the post shut down 6 minute bubble action in the reservoir. I pulled the head and brought it to the machine shop. The guy said it was pretty warped and had to take it down a bit. He said he's seen much worse. When he was cleaning it a very little amount of the cleaner was making it past a few of the valves. He said it could be from a little dirt or debris from when the valve was open prior to taking the cams out. I was reading the debate on the HG sticky thread and it got me to worrying. Here are some other factorys to consider in my decision.

To valve job or not to valve job. Part of me would like to trade up to a 97 for the airbags, less miles, and OBDII.

So if the concensus is to do a valve job on it, does anyone know a reasonable machine shop in eastern ma.

I kind feel the guy i went to would be over charging me. He wanted about 700 for the whole job. I paid him 225 to just deck it.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

 

[ardentyota]

Here in CO Springs, we just had a volvo head shaved ($75) and valve job done (20 valves, $250). Granted the LC head is about 2x the size, I think $700 is a bit much. Shop around.

 

[justin8818]

I am on the homestretch of my HG job and I opted for the valve job. The valve grind kit I ordered from CDan included everything to do it so I figured why not. I paid 450 bucks for a pressure/flatness check, cleaning, resurfacing and the valve grind/job. That's in Lexington, KY though.. If the guy said he saw some leakage past the seals I'd say go for it! But, I'd probably shop around as 700 sounds a little steep. Most all of the quotes I've saw on there were in the 400-500 range. Hope that helps!

 

[cme4lyt]

You gotta do it...

I'm also in the homestretch after a head rebuild. While you're there you gotta do the valve job. When will you ever have this opportunity again and if you don't you'll be forever wondering why you didn't ?

My complete head rebuild was $980 but I had quite a bit in extra labor for new valve guides. Head was also decked and cleaned. I had a lot of rust damage so it was a major PITA for the shop.

Do it !

 

[yoopercharged]

very common for the valve seals to leak with that mileage. I would definitely get them replaced.

 

[96beast]

Definitely do the valves. After doing mine there is no more burning oil and am gettin 16+ mpg on the freeway.

 

[Monty231]

I vote valve job.

I'm in the final stages of getting my 80 back together from a head job. The shop that did the work said the valves had some pitting, but it was all uniform and nothing major. And, my decision to do the valve grind was based on the fact I was burning a quart of oil every 500-1000 miles, and I wanted to get new valve seals installed. My truck has 197k.

 

[skibob]

If you don't do it now, you will have the pleasure of hanging out in the man cave for another couple of days when you find out that you should have.
As for the cost, some places just cost more.
It will cost more in a major metropolitan area, just because the rent's higher.
If you are at a more reputable shop it will probably cost a bit more because they are more thorough.
The labor for a more experienced and well established machinist will be higher than a recent high school grad.
If these things are in place, it's probably worth the money. If your machinist is still learning to shave, maybe you should pack it all up and go next door for a quote.

 

[jimfitz99]

I have the head in possession. I think i knew the answer all along i just needed y'all to think i'm crazy for considering not doing it.

I understand that more talent/cost of living = $$$. He does a lot of porsche and racing stuff. I don't think he's very busy and i'm paying for it. He wasn't this expensive when i brought him a set of ford heads.

Still looking for any references to a local machine shop. Eastern MA.

Jim

 

[DWSCVR]

head rebuild

I'm not far from you and having the same thing done. I'll let you know the $$$ when done. I think my head is going to reeds in whitman not sure, they have been around a long time and do great work but then again anyone who on a porche can't be all that bad...

 

[jimfitz99]

BTW I forgot to thank you guys for the advice. The plot thickens!

I spoke with another machine shop. The pricing seems comparable between shops. So the second guy started to go into what's involed. It makes sense but with a warped head the valve seats would have to be ground, valves adjusted, and the kick in the ass is after $600 bucks and all that work the cams would possibly be misaligned in their journals. Straightening the head seems like a lot of stress to put the head through. Long term what could that mean. So going back to the lack of seat time and really not knowing what i have i'm considering just putting the head back on and running it. The cost of a replacement head even a chinese one when i don't know much about the truck makes me willing to risk the labor time to put it back together and hope for the best while i source a full replacement 1FZ, 4BT or JDM diesel. Now if i stick with the head i have and it doesn't work out i'm out $225 deck and $300 HG kit.