Valve job cost?

[Gary - K7GLD]

Last year, I overheated my truck due to a stuck T-stat - and now (apparently) have a slight head gasket leak at the front passenger side of the engine - so far it's merely seeping a small amount of oil, and showing some small bubbles of vapor while running - fortunately, the leak seems to be in an area not shared by water or oil passages... The engine still runs fine - but with nearly 120,000 miles, if I have to pull the head to replace the gasket, might as well do the valves at the same time.



SO, anyone had this done professionally, and at what approximate cost - and wonder if any here know of an especially conscientious and capable shop in the Sacramento/Bay Area?

 

[Demon Dodge]

The engine in my truck started seeping a little water and oil just like you described. I pulled the head off checked the valves everything was fine. This was at 170000 miles. What i found was when i was loosening the head bolts they were way low on torque, but since i had already purchased all the gaskets i went ahead and pulled the head. If i were you i would pull the covers and check the head bolts. I dont have my manual in front of me but they torque to a certain spec then you turn them another so many degrees. Hope this helps

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have pretty decent mechanical skills, and LOTS of tools - but man, that head is BIG and HEAVY, and I have a bad back... PLUS, can never be sure what ELSE I might find in need of attention once the head comes off - and hate to have to arrange commercial transport for the truck if I get in over my head...



I can always take it to the nearest Cummins shop - but not sure what even a ROUGH cost would likely be for a valve grind and associated service - and would also like a performance-type tuneup at the same time - and the authorized Cummins shops tend to go pretty strictly by the book...



SURELY *someone* here has had to have a valve job done on their 1st generation truck by now????

 

[Brandon]

ported head... ... ...





need i say more?



oh ya 20 over on the head gasket

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"need i say more? "



Yeah... LOTS more!



Like HOW MUCH for a standard valve grind, where in Sacramento/Bay Area is a decent performance-oriented place to do the job...



THEN we'll start discussing mods...

 

[The patriot]

Probibally depend a lot on what else (if anything) would need to be done. Also, how far do you want to get into this? Want to go ported (I would if I already had the head off) trick valves (do they make them for CTD's?) stellite valves were pretty trick for gassers, if memory serves me... . Pretty pricey too.

On the gassers, you'd be best to get valve guides while doing the valve grind, but I dont know on a diesel.

(If it's even offered), stay away from a knurled guide. It's a fast cheap fix that wont last as long as your CTD will. It's a cheapo way out even on a gasser.

I have a lot of (old) experience with gassers, but not much with diesels, I dont know if this will apply.

Can someone chime in here and correct me... .

Eric

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

That's my problem - lots of experience on older gassers - rebuilt several SB chevy engines from the ground up - but NO experience with diesels - and finding a known reputable diesel shop relatively close to me seems pretty much like looking for GOLD!



Did find an apparently decent head shop - recommended by Cummins West in Sacramento (no, they DON'T do valve jobs themselves!) - and if I bring the head to them, the complete job, including installing hardened seats and new guides, will run about $400... Not bad - but I still gotta get the head OFF somehow - and also be smart enough to recognize any related problems caused by the overheating in the block, cylinders, etc...



THAT'S why I was hoping for a shop with good diesel experience - all the peripheral stuff - but, the truck has been running great since last summer when the overheating occured - and no real problem other than the small visible gasket leakage.



(sigh!) Looks like I'm gonna have to pullthat sucker myself... AND no, not real interested in laying out ANOTHER grand or two for trick heads at this point - and not convinced that I'd see any significant gains anyway with my limited mods...

 

[Brandon]

you could alway just get a head from piers or jd, which ever you feel more comfortable with... . I have also had dificulties finding machine shops to do above and beyond service... gassers no problem, but diesel???????!!!!!!! Time does become an issue when finding some one to work on our stuff and the wait to get it done. If i had any better news i'd say so.....

 

[The patriot]

There's a lot of places that sell the "standard rebuild" but I'm sure you want something that's a step beyond that. Extra time devoted to it etc. etc.

If you can get a hold of a trade paper. like TNT, or Truckers buying guide (free subscriptions) there are plenty places advertised in there that have the run of the mill rebuilds. If one of them are near you, go down and talk to them. Most places (assuming theyre not insaine busy) will do what you want, and even let you watch.

Eric

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

HMMmmm - hafta check in the latest issue of TDR mag - might be something in the advertisements related to diesel service shops in this general area! I wouldn't mind at least hearing about pricing of an exchange ported head - but suspect it's CONSIDERABLY more expen$ive than a straight valve grind...

 

[Don M]

Gary,

Finding a good shop that even knows what the heck to do is next to impossible. I have a good shop here in the Dallas area that can properly surface the head the right way. The gasser shops can rag one out quick. Diesels need a super smooth and flat surface to seal the right way. Gasser shops always have the Storm Vulcan head machines that can leave a less than desireable finish and cause a ton of troubles later.

The way I found my shop was I called Cummins and asked them who they used to do the work and was directed to them.

A good valve job only is about 400 bucks. (ouch) but there is more to it than the gasser stuff. The machines the gassers use to cut or surface the heqad have a hard time dealing with the induction hardend seat area than creeps out on the deck surface. It tears up the broach on the surfacer when it hits the hardened area.

Cummins publishs a good book for specs on head and cylinder block resurfacing as well.



My last head was ported by Joe D and has been great. Lower EGT's too. Wish I lived in Fornia I might be able to help ya out.



Don~

 

[drives mopars]

gary call imler diesel

imler diesel is in sacramento



thats the closest place to you



ask for ken



if he cant do work he will know who will



bill

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

WELL Bill - I took yer advice - got scheduled at Ken's in early June... Breaks my heart to hafta pay somewhere around $1500 for the job - but better than being left along the roadside with our 5er in tow...



Bright spot is that Ken will do a followup on the bad dyno pull I got when the TDR bunch was there for dyno day last fall - I'll get a much more accurate HP and torque reading to go on, hopefully...