Hey guys how much ball park figure does it cost labor to change out the valve guides? I need the bronze ones so I can run unleaded gas.
Thanks

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by badazz81z28:
Hey guys how much ball park figure does it cost labor to change out the valve guides? I need the bronze ones so I can run unleaded gas.
Thanks</font>

You need the seats changed to run unleaded fuels, not the guides. And with any of the 781 castings you have been talking about there is no reason to change them. The 781 head came about in the smog era and will have hardened seats already from the factory.

As for valve guides, bronze vs steel isn't much of a difference, and I don't know of any issue running steel and unleaded gasoline. If your guides are SHOT then look at replacing them. If they are OK then don't worry about it.

As for price, it depends on the shop, but it usually runs about $100.

73454... Is right.

It's the seats, not the guides that needs changing on older 60's heads to run with unleaded fuels.

But as far as the guides. The shop I used charges $120-150 for parts and labor to put in new bronze guides, and do a valve job

I stay away from bronze guides for a true street motor...

Nothing wrong with cast iron guides like they came with..

Thanks for the correction. I have noticed 2 guides being cracked at the top so I do need to get them fixed. Thanks for the advice. So the bronze guides will or not be good for the street??

Huh... I was looking at valve guides and there are plenty of different sizes. Which ones do I need? Thanks again for the help.
oh btw the 781s I have are dated 1973

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by badazz81z28:
Huh... I was looking at valve guides and there are plenty of different sizes. Which ones do I need? Thanks again for the help.
oh btw the 781s I have are dated 1973</font>

The machine shop will have the right ones to install. I woulnd't even give it another thought. Just find someone to do it.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by 73454:
The machine shop will have the right ones to install. I woulnd't even give it another thought. Just find someone to do it.</font>

from my experience in the past is parts are cheaper elsewhere than the machine shop

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by badazz81z28:
from my experience in the past is parts are cheaper elsewhere than the machine shop </font>

True, but if it takes you 3 days to find the right parts, how much is your time worth to you?

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by badazz81z28:
from my experience in the past is parts are cheaper elsewhere than the machine shop </font>

What they don't get in parts they will make it up in labor, quit making it more difficult then what it needs to be.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by BlownBigBlock:
What they don't get in parts they will make it up in labor, quit making it more difficult then what it needs to be.

</font>

LOL. I gotta agree. Ypu're gonna pay one way or the other if someone else does the work...

I've had one set done a while back, and they charged $5 a guide, including labor, so $80 for a set of heads, plus cleaning and valve job.

80$ is the going rate around here including parts. We don't guide them wiyhout doing the valve job which is another 80$. We like to grind them because the new guide might not be 100% the same as the old one. ANd most machine shops prefer you use their parts. We won't warranty any parts not purchased through us. That little markup helps cover any warranty work incurred by bad parts. Jeff