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Q & A: Changing Valve Guides

In the Bentley Manual it states that you can replace the valve guides by driving them down into the combustion side of the head. After 30 some years of these parts being in the head. Just how easily is it to remove these guides with a drift without damaging the head? Would a hydraulic press work better?There are two reasons why I would like to remove the guides myself. First I live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where there are no machine shops. The nearest machine shop is around 70 miles one way. The second is the price given to me. $350 and I supply the guides. I should have added a third reason. Which is the workmanship down here isn't the greatest. If you want something done right you need to do it yourself. Which leads to a good self education in the skill trades. Why people down here except the poor workmanship I do no! t understand. I did take an engine I am planning to rebuild to one of the best (I am told by our club) machine shop up in Virginia Beach, Va for cleaning, cam bearing replacement and to have the crank reground. That was March 7, 2007. As of today I am still waiting for it to be done.

I have never done any cylinder head work myself -- I've always sent it off to our machine shop. The machining is a critical process, as you well know from the descriptions you've given. We do not have the machinery to rework the cylinder heads o... read more