I am in the process of rebuilding my I6 and doing a 4.5 stroker build while im at it.

I took my head to a local machine shop and they said they would take it apart, see what needed to be done to rebuild it, and then give me a call with an estimate so I could give the go ahead. Never got the call and ended up going there in person only to get the same thing told to me and that they were going to finally get to it 4 weeks after I dropped it off.

I get a call this past week from them telling me that its done, I ask how much and they said $531. I would never would have given the go ahead on this amount of work. I felt a rebuilt head was worth 250, maybe 300. I never gave the go ahead or anything so clearly I won't be paying them unless they come down toa reasonable price.

My question to the forum is if youve had a I6 head rebuilt how much did it cost you? What would you be willing to pay if you were in my situation?

 

The 4.0's head is a pretty simple design compared to say a DOHC honda or import motor and last time i got my honda's head redone was about $300 and that was with all new intake and exhaust valves and also getting the head ported and a 3 angle valve job( i've never had my jeep head rebuit yet to compare your price so just going by what i had done.


Thats said $531 seem really high considering you can order a new head from quadratec.com for like $350 and those heads area actually brand new not rebuilts.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/51108_002.htm

 

I will link where I got my motor from and they sell cylinder heads for around $170 plus shipping..and $75 core charge.

http://www.citymotorsupply.com/\


The $500 is likely using higher end then standard OEM rebuild parts. They may be using higher end lifters and so on and better seals and such. Also how much machine work needed to be done could also be the issue. So depending on what they did will depend on what the cost was. Did you tell them you were building a stroker? If so then the head would have to be build for the higher compression and such so yes it would cost more then a standard OEM rebuild.


Also the quadratech is just the head not the valve train so you would be looking at more then $350 and close to $500 by the time you finished the head out.

 

when i had my 4 banger rebuilt it was $275 with new intake and exhaust valves. if you never gave then the ok there is got to be some kind of law about that. i would only pay $300 at the most.

 

I think my I6 cost around 230, I would not pay them 530 especially with them not telling you the price before it was worked on.

 

JUST!! had my head rebuilt...i paid 294 for Everything and i had the head magnafluxed (checks for cracks) and valve seals and a brass freeze plug installed...all extra. Also had the intake and pushrods all hottanked and cleaned. 500 is WAY!!! to much...i would ask for a break down on cost. without replacing all valves and springs that is alot.

 

I think the key here is he had a head built for a stroker. I am not engine guru but I'd bet they did more then the standard rebuild we normally get which should cost less then $300.

 

I would ask them what they put in it,did you say it would be used on a stroker?
If you are using a higher lift cam they might have put better springs in it,even with that $500 is alot.
You can buy new ones for the same amount.

 

Just my 2 cents, so please take no offense. I just replaced a head on a 2000 4.0L......(I'm an ASE Master auto mechanic BTW) I don't get a discount at the Machine shop we use, however with new valves, springs,seats and guides it came to $425.00 I have not built a stroker with this engine before, but I don't think it would require more than higher lift valves and springs. Price may seem high but maybe their hourly rate is higher.

 

I did tell them it was going into a stroker, but nothing special needed to be done for this head. My CR is near stock with the build I am doing, and am keeping stock cam.

Stock valves, stock springs and lifters were all that were needed. My biggest issue was I wasnt aware of the work being done, and I know when I called they did break it down and most noticable was 250 for the valve job.

Btw why would I want to spend 531 for a rebuild head when the head is a 0331 (prone to cracking) when I could get this new Alabama cylinder head for 495.00
http://www.alabamacylinderhead.com/p...ail.php?id=109

 

Yes if all they did was install stock valvetrain then $530 is really high.

250 for a valve job is really high also figuring a hourly rate of say $65 to 70 a hour shop rate that would give you 4 hours of work on a valve job that way over lol.

 

x2. Thats a lot of money to put into a piece of junk head prone to cracking, especially if its going on a stroker. I have an alabama head on my jeep. They are strengthened to prevent cracking, and their customer service was very good.

 

How much did yours cost and did it come with the valvetrain?

 

$495 was the total and that was brandy new with valvetrain.