A buddy of mine has a 96 Formula with an LT1 M6. He is in AZ right now and was quoted $2,200 to replace the valve guides. I do not know that much about LT1's but that seems a little steep. What doyou guy's think?

 

$2,200? Holy Christ.

Those valve guides better make him coffee in the morning and wash his car for him.

That's only slightly overpriced.

Once again,

 

Doesn't sound steep.. sounds astronomical. But if he's not mechanically inclined or has no one around to help him, he may have no choice. At the very least, he should shop around.

That's a lot of $$ that could be spent on tools and learning how to at least remove and reinstall the heads himself. It's not difficult to do - it's just very time consuming and can be a real PITA. But it can be done. From there it's just a matter of tracking down a decent machine shop.

 

Nice price...how about this...you can fly me out, pay me 1000 bucks and still save money.

 

What exactly are they claiming is the problem with the guides?

Clearance? Smack a valve?

 

From what I understand the car is burning oil, blowing some smoke. The shop did a diagnostic test and said everything checks out fine (compression, rings, etc..) so the problem has to be in the valve seals or the valve guides. Seals is $600 they can do it with the heads on the engine. Guides are $2200 have to remove the heads.

 

My guess would be your seals and honestly I would take the heads of myself and then have a shop just swap the seals for like 20 bucks or whatever.

 

I think that is an extremely conservative estimate. $20 bucks to do valve seals? But you are on the right track if you take them off yourself you will save a butt load of money.