V6 Valve Job Shop Estimate - Reasonable?

[craigfr]

After being in the shop for a while the mechanic has determined that the rough idle and lack of power at high rpms is due to a burnt exhaust valve. He said it will cost $2700 to do the whole job incl all parts, gaskets, and labor and will take at least a week. Is this reasonable for a shop visit like this?

He also said I can replace only the three passenger side valves if I want for $700 less, but that as long as everything is out I might as well do them all since the others probably need replacement too. It just seems like a silly amount of money to spend on an engine I thought was bullet proof...

It's a beautiful 2000 SR5 with 202k miles.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

You could put a used engine with half your miles in it, for half of that cost.

 

[athlon450]

You can get 2 new heads and install them yourself for well under a grand!

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

sounds crazy high to me! i would look for another motor or a set of fresh heads.

 

[quicksilvr]

After being in the shop for a while the mechanic has determined that the rough idle and lack of power at high rpms is due to a burnt exhaust valve. He said it will cost $2700........yada yada yada

Exactly how sure are you that this diagnosis is correct? Especially with that quoted price.....I smell some pulled wool.

To be honest, I've never pulled a 5VZ, or done anything major mechanical to them. However, I have worked on a lot of 4cyl's, as well as old V8's. I cannot imagine a valve replacment job taking a week. At a shop. Maybe in my garage when I only work on it "after work".

 

[athlon450]

For that price you could drop the pan and install new rod bearings and rings just and freshen her up and get another 200k out of her. I rebuilt my my whole engine from the ground up for less than a grand.

 

[quicksilvr]

You can get 2 new heads and install them yourself for well under a grand!

^THIS! Seriously, buy some fully reconditioned heads, and do it yourself or take them to a mechanic. Just not that mechanic that quoted you nearly $3 grand for some burnt exhaust valves.

 

[athlon450]

Exactly how sure are you that this diagnosis is correct? Especially with that quoted price.....I smell some pulled wool.

To be honest, I've never pulled a 5VZ, or done anything major mechanical to them. However, I have worked on a lot of 4cyl's, as well as old V8's. I cannot imagine a valve replacment job taking a week. At a shop. Maybe in my garage when I only work on it "after work".

Exactly! For 2700 I will come out to your house and replace the heads with new ones.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

i had a valve job done a few months ago i was charged $600

 

[brian2sun]

$600 is about what a valve adjustment costs on our engines. A valve job is a lot more pricey. It's not common practice to R&R just one head/HG and not the other. So I would confirm that that price is to rebuild both heads with labor included. That job can easily take a week or so because most shops will have to send the heads out to get machined.

Like PitbullRescuer said, you could get a used motor installed with a warranty for a lot less. I would recommend that over a cheap rebuild or just a top-end rebuild.

 

[Brilliant]

valve job, waste of time. Buy a rebuilt engine. Swap it yourself

 

[shadow247]

$600 is about what a valve adjustment costs on our engines. A valve job is a lot more pricey. It's not common practice to R&R just one head/HG and not the other. So I would confirm that that price is to rebuild both heads with labor included. That job can easily take a week or so because most shops will have to send the heads out to get machined.

Like PitbullRescuer said, you could get a used motor installed with a warranty for a lot less. I would recommend that over a cheap rebuild or just a top-end rebuild.

Do this! Call up LKQ corporation - they probably have a location in your area, and try to find a motor with under 100k. You can purchase a LIFETIME warranty on the engine for an extra charge. I just purchased an LS1 for a customer's Corvette with a lifetime warranty for 3500 dollars! For 2700 bucks you could probably do a 5.3l V8 swap from a newer body style chevy!