Engine work Quote - Reasonable Price?

[LVpine]

I have my 97 Disco 1 at a european import shop here in Las Vegas and I want to know if the quote they just gave me is at least reasonable. Keep in mind, I don't have the time or the know-how to do this myself. They want to do a valve job.

Engine head Gasket set
Reconditioned heads
Labor
Total $1566

Is there a lot of benefit from doing this at all? What other details do I want from them? Will this eliminate my top end noise? (I think it's my lifters)

 

[Disco Mike]

A valve job will not take away noise> How many miles on the engine? What sort of noise and when? Get a second or third option on what is wrong with the truck as well as the price.
Mike J.

 

[p m]

The LR shop book quotes something like 10 hours to swap the head gasket alone, so, from this prospective the quote doesn't look bad.
I would take the heads off by myself, and have the shop work on them.

 

[LVpine]

The noise is just a clicking sort of noise while the car is idling. It's not loud. I think it's just a lifter. The only reason I don't take it for more opinions is that i can't go around paying $75-$100 for diagnosis. That's why I was asking you guys if it's a good deal.

 

[DeanBrown3D]

Kip - have you thought about trying seafoam or some other such cleaner - directly into the plenum that is? Some dealerships do this as a first attempt. And some people use the stuff regularly (like 2-4 times a year) to keep the valves clear.

-D

 

[MTNHDWR]

I just had the "valve job" done on my '00 D2. Cost me around $2,000. However, I had a stuck valve and a blown head gasket as well, the job had to be done. I don't think I could justify $1,500 for a clicking valve, especially if everything is running fine otherwise.

 

[andrewv]

Another common cause of "clicking" can be the rocker arms. Do you hear it up high in the valve covers?

 

[Rocky]

These engines all click and go on for tens of thousands of miles clicking happily.
Its part of Roverdom. Proposed work will not stop the clicking as its a cam/followers lifters problem not a head problem.

Got to RPIs site www.v8engines.com or www.rpiV8.com

 

[discoal]

Hello Kip,

Check out lrclv.com and join us sometime.
You need to call Bill at 222-0444.
He owns his own shop and is the best available in Vegas.

 

[Steve83]

That's an excellent price for a valve job, and if it hasn't been done yet, it's time. No matter how much sea foam or other stuff you spray in, your intake & head gaskets NEED to be changed. Just look at the bottom of your engine... Have them add 2 rocker assemblies to the job - they're only ~$80 each new @ the dealer (no extra labor), and they'll eliminate your ticking.