Head recon

[84coupe]

Just calling up a few shops lately checking prices for a smallport head recon and mild port.

what kind of prices has anyone here paid?
And the quality of the work.


Preston

[Nikkojoe]

I got my smallport head cleaned up, machined flat, valves pulled out, cleaned and new valve stem seals installed for $150.

Harris Engines
(08) 9444 3838
4 Roberts St
Osborne Park WA 6017

[84coupe]

Yeah well thats rather cheap tom.

Got quoted alot of moneys today.

what i want done isnt alot more than yours.

Basicly want a standard recon of the head plus some porting.

Thought some of the quotes i got today were a tad bit much for my liking.

[Nikkojoe]

I did however provide the valve stem seals, but i doubt it would be much more then that.

I think the porting part might be what's costing you (unless for what I got done you are getting charged a lot for :P)

[84coupe]

Nah the recon was more than the porting.

Valve stem seals wouldnt be more than $50 i dont recon

Just want a decent job done.

Had some bad experience in the past with shops.

Its not like im building a race motor.

[Nikkojoe]

Had a few experiences now with 4a stuff done by him, seems to be on the ball. No problems with the jobs he has done :)

It would be an idea to get a valve regrind seal kit, which will get you a new head gasket and all the top end seals you will need (including valve stem). Just give him the valve stem seals and he will do the work.

I paid cash as well, so maybe that's another factor :P

[84coupe]

Well i intend to pay cash.

Easy for both parties imo.

But yeah ill look around for a vrs kit.

U can get acl kits right?

If soo ill get one of them.

Next thing is the pistons.

Thinking about some wisecos.

But abit pricey for me.

Any suggestions Tom?

Going to use my blacktop bottom end with some 16v pistons.

[Nikkojoe]

I got an acl kit, but in my opinion durapro looked like a better set (head gasket looks similar to oem). Just be mindful if you are going oversize pistons as your standard head gasket wont work.

So what are you looking for from your engine?

[84coupe]

Maybe something around the 110 hp range.

Nothing too crazy

Like johnny ks setup was similar to what im after.

Just ive only got stock bigport cams atm.

If i was going to get cams wouldnt go further than 256s
as it is a street car.

[H8CHIR6KU]

acl has gone broke so good luck getting shit from them.

you can get head gasket kits with valve stem seals from veales for not very much. they give you the ae82 for the bigport and ae92 for the smallport ones.

150 is about the average for a full recondition of a head as a cashie.

if your looking for aorund 110hp im selling my 20v silver top which makes 120rwhp and is already converted to rwd with rschita kit and everything else etc etc. its in my 86 so wont need mods

[84coupe]

well ive got a blacktop here

just not that keen on it.

would rather keep 16v.


but yeah i thought the prices i got for my 16 head recon where over the top.

like 880 to do the head then 550 for the porting.

WTF

[H8CHIR6KU]

that sounds like normal retail prices for full recon spec. was that from headtorque?

how come your not keen on your blacktop?

[84coupe]

Well its still an option.

Just leaning towards 16v as i prefer to keen it looking as standard as possible.

Ive had a blacktop before in fwd.

Top end is good. Just not much before that.

[H8CHIR6KU]

im got a silvertop in mine and i reckon its better than my 4age at any part of the rev range. i do have my vvt coming on at 4k thru to 8k. its almost like a hardcore version of my big port.

but as far as standard looks you cant go past 16v even though mine is clean and neat its still no 16v

[84coupe]

Yeah ive got a full adaptronic loom for 16v with quads and coil on plugs
got myself gze cas.

Just need to sort out this smallport head and put some 16v pistons in my blacktop block.

Just keen for a nice nippy 16v.

[mattyj]

old thread, but i had my head fully reconditioned, ie cleaned, machined, new seals, valves and seats re ground, new hi perf springs supplied and fitted, tappets set for 700 from AK cylinder heads in kelmscott. he has done some work before for me on a damaged head off an 8 sec VL and his work is second to none.