How much to recondition heads?

[Gazzab]

Just had a bill for my heads post recondition. They cost over £4.5k. But it includes :
Recondition 2 x heads
Replace Valve guides
Cut and grind Valve seats
Replace 8 x Inlet valves
And 8 x Exhaust valves
Valve spring seat Washers
Stem seals
Cam followers
Collets
New exhaust camshaft and inlet camshaft
Shim tappet gaps

Just a bit surprised at this surprise bill. It includes carriage. So may ask for the bill from whoever did the work and some itemisation.

Edited by Gazzab on Thursday 17th February 19:55

[Flatplane8]

Hi,

That is a big bill, but it does sound like there was a lot done with new parts all round. Hopefully the bottom end (if it’s being done) won’t be quite so bad.

Simon

[Gazzab]

Flatplane8 said:

Hi,

That is a big bill, but it does sound like there was a lot done with new parts all round. Hopefully the bottom end (if it’s being done) won’t be quite so bad.

Simon

Hopefully it won’t be so bad. Less parts to change. At least I haven’t had a recent divorce and am not buying a house. Oops

[TwinKam]

It's the itemisation of an 'inlet camshaft' and an 'exhaust camshaft' that would bother me.

[Gazzab]

TwinKam said:

It's the itemisation of an 'inlet camshaft' and an 'exhaust camshaft' that would bother me.

We did talk about some revised camshaft profiles.

[spitfire4v8]

TwinKam said:

It's the itemisation of an 'inlet camshaft' and an 'exhaust camshaft' that would bother me.

Maybe they did it just so your username would become very apt

[SimonKD]

Hi Gaz

In July 2014 my new camshafts cost £300 each.
8 inlet and 8 exhaust valves were £500
16 buckets were £330
16 valve guides and seals were £420
2 copper head gaskets were £400

That's £2250 for just the parts on the heads alone I've mentioned.

I have no idea what the same establishment would charge today, 8yrs later.

Regards
Simon

[Gazzab]

Thanks Simon. That’s interesting. I guess the parts alone could be £3k plus. Then vat etc and before long it all adds up.

[Chuggaboom]

Minus the cost of the cams and bucket followers, but plus a 5 thou head skim, I had the whole engine rebuilt for 3.5K last year !

[Flatplane8]

Chuggaboom said:

Minus the cost of the cams and bucket followers, but plus a 5 thou head skim, I had the whole engine rebuilt for 3.5K last year !

That sounds like a good price, where was that?

[TwinKam]

spitfire4v8 said:

TwinKam said:

It's the itemisation of an 'inlet camshaft' and an 'exhaust camshaft' that would bother me.

Maybe they did it just so your username would become very apt

Well the AJP does have two camshafts, but not per bank, so it's not really a twink in the Lotus sense is it Joolz. A friend suggested my tag should be Quadcam seeing as my V6 Mondies and my Buell Cyclone have four camshafts apiece... but TwinKam is just an abomination of my middle- and sur-names.
Oh, that, and a certain Mk1 'scort I once had

[Gazzab]

I’ve asked for an itemised breakdown of the costs and Labour. Also asked about the cams. And asked for photos of the heads.

[Byker28i]

My engine was rebuilt in 2018
from your list:

Recondition 2 x heads
Replace Valve guides - 16 x valve guides £300 - Machining £160 - Fit £475
Cut and grind Valve seats - Machining £160 -
Replace 8 x Inlet valves
And 8 x Exhaust valves - 16 together £280
Valve spring seat Washers
Stem seals - 16x £64
Cam followers - 16 x £272
Collets
New exhaust camshaft and inlet camshaft - £500
Shim tappet gaps

It all adds up quickly - then the dreaded vat...

[Gazzab]

Thanks. Yep it all adds up. I wasn’t aware I was having so much work done :-)

[ukkid35]

Don't forget valve springs - that's another £300

Also, I shimmed the valve spring seats

This should ensure valve spring pressure is sufficient and equal across the whole bank

I don't think that is always included in a head rebuild

[ukkid35]

Gazzab said:

Valve spring seat Washers

That probably refers to the shims, so more labour involved

[Byker28i]

I sent Gazzab my engine bill, so he had an idea of prices - hope he's recovered from the shock

[Jhonno]

4.5k just to recondition the heads?!!! Or is that including engine removal etc too?!

[Gazzab]

I am awaiting a breakdown of the costs and more clarity. I’ll need to sell a kidney.

[Gazzab]

Got a copy of the bill from the machine shop. Powers Performance. So can see the breakdown. The heads needed major work after some previous ‘butchering’ apparently.