Stage 1

[Anonymous]

Going to Neal's to get the cylinder head done. I'm going to have them do the whole 9 yards: guides, valves, seals, ect. I think I may go ahead and get the seals local and swap to FSPP ones later if I feel. These guys do PNP AND angle jobs. Small shops = good. The big shop in Nashville didn't want to do PNP or allow me to supply parts. Bummer.

I'll hollary at'cha when that is finished... I have to get another car for a DD, because my girlfriend doesn't feel comfortable in the Maverick that, and I want the best in her interest... the car is kinda raggity as it is. However, I hope to get this done ASAP...

Anyone going to give me a good idea of how much this will cost and such? Plus, any requests for before & after? Anything else I need to know?

 

[ASMART]

I am kinda thick. What is PNP.

 

[Anonymous]

port and polish.....

I believe....

 

[Anonymous]

Yup.

I took the head in, and they are going to remove the exhaust manifold. That now gives me an excuse to get headers, because there are positively no exhaust manifolds to be bought around here... If you get what I mean.

 

[addo]

Get them to ensure that the exhaust face is flat and true. Also, strip out every freeze plug and get rid of scale that builds up in the cooling passages. This is fairly essential to a warmed-over motor.

Don't expect a noticeable performance boost with headers. More likely to find slightly better economy and quieter exhaust note!

Your better half should be more supportive. Why can't she buy a different car?

 

[Anonymous]

She is... I probably won't bother with a DD until after the Maverick is done. I'll just have to drive the Gold Pontiac till then. The only reason she can't get a car right now is she's going to a big university, and she's literally on a budget... dun know the details, but she only has so much money every week or month? Off that topic...

I finally got word from Neal's... a week after I sent the head there. 425. I'm going there to see exactly what is going to be done to the head for that price.

 

[66Sprint6]

$425!!!!! My first head went to them and they did good work, but the head cracked. I then bought a "new" big valve, big log head for HALF that price with everything they are going to do to your head except the port and polish, and that can be done no problem by myself. Shoot, wish you woulda got the price before you took it in so we coulda got together and got a better head...oh well
Matt

 

[Anonymous]

Ouch. Well, they are installing new guides, removing broken bolts, "valve job", PNP, surfacing, and "magnaflux" or something like that...

I think they took advantage of the fact I had no idea what price to expect... either that, or they do an excellent job at PNP...

 

[addo]

If the work's honest, it's a decent rate IMO! Post some pics after it's back.

 

[66Sprint6]

Sure its a decent price if they do good work, but not when concidering you can get a "new" head with bigger valves, 3 angle etc for cheaper. I will hunt for the company I got it from and put the info on here later.
Matt

 

[JackFish]

Charges are by the hour, usually $50-$75 up here.
"How much time does each job require?" is the question.
One place I went to typically charge 1hr per cylinder for a PNP on a V8
I asked them to spend half that time, and they said OK because there's nothing to be done on the log intake side.
That won't include seals, guides, valve job, etc. All that stuff takes time.
I think you got a good quote because that job will take at least a day.
At $50/hr they would spend 8hrs on it.

 

[Anonymous]

Eh... I just hope this is actually worth it...

 

[66Sprint6]

Anything is better than stock, plus my head sucked not because of the shop, but because...it sucked. It cracked numerous times and I just gave up with it. When it was time to go turbo, we pulled it and noticed a nice crack in the actual log itself. Anyways, lemme know when you get it back, wanna see the car sometime.
Matt

 

[Anonymous]

Checked in today, and lemme tell ya... 425 may not be the end figure, either.

The good news is it seems they're replacing a lot of things for cheap. They got the guides and seats in, but they spent the whole day on broken exhaust manifold bolts that my friend left in there attempting to remove the manifold. Granted, I'd call it BS, but I remember spending DAYS trying to remove ONE FUGGIN NUT. Sometimes, that crap sucks...

Anywho, you can feel free to see the car if you wish. You know how to get a hold of me. Just don't expect anything beautiful... but that's elbow grease is for!

 

[Anonymous]

Btw, 425 was the final price, and it is BEAUTIFUL! Pics soon...

Vote: What should stage 2 be?

 

[addo]

A party to celebrate successful completion of Stage I? 8)

Improved cooling would be my vote. That will get you a long way as a build progresses.

 

[66Sprint6]

Stage II
2 barrell, headers and duraspark
Matt

 

[Anonymous]

I think Stage II will be carb, headers, and divider just to get this car running again. I miss starting up that car...