Getting head gaskets changed, car has 135k should I rebuild the heads new, or just fix the valve that I know is broken. I here rebuilding the top alone can tear up the bottom.

HELP IN SHOP NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There's really no rebuilding of the heads. If you mean getting port work done then you might as well do it now while the heads are off.

If you plan on modding your car beyond basic boltons, you are most likely going to want to get your heads ported or go with aftermarket heads. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and get the work done now while you have the heads off anyway.

 

well what are they going to do at the machine shop?
A mechanic said that if I send the heads to the machine shop for rebuilding without doing anything to the bottom end, because of my high mileage I may throw a bearing.

thanks for any replies!

 

LOL.....I wouldn't get anything done by them, sounds like their trying to milk you for a few extra things.

Getting headwork done and spinning a bearing only have a correlation because headwork will net you more horsepower. That's like saying putting headers on is going to contribute to you spinning a bearing.

While in essence any modification you do to your car that gives you horsepower is going to have good effects (faster) and bad effects (more wear on components)....the mechanic stating that you are going to spin a bearing simply because you are going to get your heads worked on is going out on a very long limb.

Sounds like to me that they are trying to take you for a ride so you will pay them to rebuild your bottom end. Sounds like it might be too late but you might want to try to find a member that lives close to you who would be willing to help you change out your head gaskets. It's a fairly easy job that a shop is going to charge you an arm and a leg for.

Again....if you can, find someone on this board who lives close to you who would be willing to give you a hand for a 12 pack or for very little $$$.

 

I was searching around and I saw where some people put hot cams in cars with high mileage and there bottom end tore up. I can't think of the thread but it was quite a few people. So in my position with my amount of miles would you send the heads to but rebuilt by a machine shop and just change the gaskets.

Also since you are the only person on tonight (lol) have you heard of "gasket port matching". Just heard of it today by the guy fixing my car, he works with alot of old cars, but chevys and he said he could do this for $60, and it would help a little on hp?

Thanks a bunch!

 

Like I said...the only real correlation between head/cam/valvetrain work is the added stress put on your rotating assembly from added HP.

Gasket matching is where they will match the exhaust ports (for example) closely to your header gasket or your intake ports on both heads and intake to your intake gaskets.

The gasket shows the person doing the porting about how much they can open up the ports when they're doing the work.

You won't gain much from gasket matching, the real gains are in the port work of the intake and exhaust ports, bowls, etc.....mainly exhaust on the LT1 since there isn't much work that is easily done on the intake side.

 

I just had my heads in for service while fixing the head gasket. I don't know what problem you had, you say one valve is broken or a problem?

I had a valve job which is replacing all the valve seals and re-seating all the valves (3 angles). Also, they check the springs and general wear of the valves and should replace anything that is worn (extra cost). They also check the compression of each head and check for warpage. Finally, had it acid dipped and glass beaded. They look bran new.

As far as I know, this work shouldn't hurt anything in the bottom end, and the heads should be like brand new.

BTW: The valve job cost 85 each head (plus parts).
Replane 35 each head.
Compression check 35 each head

Hope this helps.