NEED HELP. Cost of Replacing 355 Valve Guides

Walk. Anyone that would only do one side has no idea what they are doing. Guides done by a good shop will require new valves and seat lapping. 12k on top of a major. Anyone that says less has no idea of the work involved

 

Wow 12k on top of major...valve's must be gold plated..lol

 

I really need to send you my invoice from when Competizione did mine. No where close to 12k.

 

If some of the guides have an issue, which it sounds like they do, you want to rebuild both heads, entirely.

If you must have the car don't let it go back together with just a few guides replaced.

How much would that cost? I really don't know. 12k seems like a lot, triple what I would have guessed.

 

I just had two heads done on a pair of extra heads that I have. $ 4600 with all new guides, seals, two new valves that were slightly bent.

 

One valve job does not equal another.

The type of guides, the level of machine work, the parts replaced, the attention to detail are all variables. Setting the valve install height is a special process requiring special tools. Do you think everyone doing this does that part right? Do they measure the spring force for of each spring and replace as needed? Do they replace guides and valves? How about seats? Left as is, lapped or replaced? The head gaskets alone are near $500 for the pair.

Pulling the heads on a 355 is much more involved than one would imagine if they have not done it prior.

 

All that is true, except that it is still not rocket science.

 

Never said it was rocket science. Just saying doing the job 100% cost money and it's not to be confused with a lesser job.

 

One valve job doesn't equal another but not all done properly will cost 6000 per head. Unless it's exotic components/port work/blueprinting by a high end shop I can't imagine how a straight up rebuild could possibly cost that much.

Head gaskets are less than 100 each.

 

Head Gasket - Ricambi America, Inc.

Would love to pay less than $100 each

 

^^And you can

 

Yep, new valves, coated valve train components done correct with the valve pucks ground to spec.
So so many great machinists are doing this today as it's not a 1995 specialty anymore
Heck most bike motors are are more advanced then these relics.

 

If you ask some of the trusted mechanics its a big job. If you do a search on here you will soon realize as stated one job is not the same as the others. I guess decide how long you want to keep the car.
There was a whole discussion on the problem with just removing and replacing the seats. Some do it properly others do what works. I have yet to hear of a whole bunch of problems but have heard of some that were done differently than the expensive way.

Like i said do a search and lots of reading and make up your own mind.

 

It's a big job and none of the parts are cheap. Not every machine shop is up to the job.

The valves and guides in this engine were done by a dealer. It was necessary to redo them for the client because of poor workmanship.
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Just curious, why would you do up an extra set of heads? Was the thought that you got a good deal on another set of heads, had them done and will now swap out your old heads? That's a lot of money to spend just for a spare set to sit on the shelf

 

can you get a invoice for the side being done? With that and a calculator you could come up with a ball park figure. I think its asinine to tear that far into the motor and not fix all the guides knowing later you might have to repair other guides on the same head the other one or both.
Why are you so dead set on this car? Is it such a great deal that you cant pass it up?
There are plenty of well sorted cars that are turn key and you can test drive....if their willing to do a halfa$$ valve guide I would wonder what else they let slide

 

I agree with Shootfighter65- although, I think there could be a potentially good dealer here IF: (1) you can somehow vet the machine shop (find a couple of reputable Ferrari mechanics in the area of the machine shop to ask their opinion- go to the applicable region section of F-chat and ask or do a search in the applicable region for reputable mechanics), (2) you can work a deal for maybe less than the side the shop is already doing- given that the motor is there, maybe for cash payment he'd do the other side, and (3) of course, this has to be a deal that works/makes sense from a cost of the car.

One hurdle is you basically need to settle on a deal of the car before doing this - you wouldn't want to pay the shop for work if you don't yet own the car. Is everything else about the car checked out? Electronics, chassis/accident history, steering rack, suspension...all the other stuff that you'd want to check besides motor condition?

 

Sad really. If the owner is OK with replacing just one side of guides, I would really wonder what the hell else he has cheated on over the years.

Now, if that owner really thinks that a quality valve job costs $12,000....and the rest of the car is to your liking, offer to buy the thing less the $12,000 repair costs.

Take the car and send the heads out for a much more reasonable repair elsewhere

Good luck. Once sorted, these are amazing machines for sure.

 

I take it you didn't go back to Liberty IN? hahaha.

Glad you are making progress on the repairs!

 

When I bought my car the price included an allowance of $6k for a major. When the engine was out the shop doing the service said it needed guides for an additional $6k. Dealer split the cost so I anteed up $3k. Invoice shows parts were over $5k, including new valves, guides, 14 rebuild tappets, and other parts associated with only the valve job (seals, gaskets, etc).

 

Craig from Fast Cars is charging me 10k for a major and new valve guides. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing and he has a stellar reputation. 12k for just valve guides is ridiculous.

OP, the owner is a fool honestly for not doing the other side while at it. I would buy the car as is but with deduct 5k from the cost. At least 3k...find a good shop in your area that's recommended here and get a quote.

 

I general a valve job about doubles the cost of doing a major alone. If all genuine Ferrari parts are used the parts bill can go up quite a bit.

I do agree whole heartedly with the post raising a red flag about the owners general attitude towards the servicing of his car. Removing one head and replacing 2 or 3 bad guides is insanity and is not a mindset he developed yesterday.