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Valve Job or not?

summitXMK

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76BBSub Enthusiast

76BBSub

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My '76 Suburban has about 90K miles on the original 454.  Doesn't appear to be burning oil, but there is a puff of smoke at startup, telling me that my valve guide seals are leaking.  I am installing a new intake and headers this week, and am considering having the heads done while I'm at it, since I will have all the other stuff off of them anyway.

My question is, will the bottom end and rings wear more quickly after the valve job?  Should I just wait and rebuild the whole engine at once in a few years?  The valve job would be about ? for both heads at a local hot-rod engine building shop.

One more question...should I go ahead and slip in a better cam and a new timing set while I'm there, too?  Again, effects on the bottom end?

Thanks!!

Jeff

Guest Friz

Guest Friz

Posted
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At a mere 90k, I'd get a valve job. You probably don't have too much wear on the engine unless it has been abused or seriously neglected.

Contrary to popular belief, a head job will not shorten the life of your bottom end. You just have to realize that the new heads you're running don't make a new motor!

76BBSub Enthusiast

76BBSub

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the input.  I'm going to call the shop tomorrow and see what they say, and if they can turn the heads around in a couple of days for me.  I figure I can get 50K to 100K more miles from this engine if I keep the fluids changed and don't beat on it.  I pretty much never tow or haul anything, it's just a daily driver for me.

Thanks again!

Jeff

summitXMK Enthusiast

summitXMK

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I don't know about the big blocks but I've got 2 small blocks a 78 chevy 1 ton with a 350 and a 78 K5 blazer with a 400 and both have over 250K miles on them. I just change the fluids and keep every thing maintaned.  and the 1 ton has pulled everything from snowmobiles to kenworths down the highway.  (that did cost me an automatic tranny however)  

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