Replacing Valve Guides

[TriniGT]

Okay I am in some problems. I have purchased all the items for my RB26DETT rebuild and have checked the stock guides and they need replacing. My BIG problem is that like everything else locally I cannot find someone to change my guides. Things that are suppose to be common practice for a build is not so common locally. I have purchased Cosworth Bronze guides for my intake and exhaust and I am wondering if anyone has ever done the replacement process at home successfully and how hard is it to do. I have heard that the head needs to be heated and the cast guides tapped out and then the head heated again and the brnoze ones tapped in to proper clearances and then have the guides reemed and honed to specs. Can anyone advise me on what can be done? I have access to an oven big enough to fit the head and I also have the intake and exhaust removal tool, I may still need to get a reemer and some sort of tool to hone it. Can someone please give me some insight. My second option which I am too looking at is having the head and parts shipped to the US to have the work done properly but shipping the head alone will probably cost more than the head alone. Someone tell me some good news .

[MercuryMotorsport]

Where abouts are you located buddy?

[Dobz]

There's no way you can diy valve guides properly when as well as the guides neeeding to be honed, the valve seats need to be machined and the valves ground if you want them to seal properly.

Surely there is someone that has the equipment to do the job properly that's closer than america.

[TriniGT]

Sorry, I live in Trinidad in the Caribbean . There is a local shop that drills the old cast iron guides and inserts sleeves of bronze guides and then reams and hones them for a proper seal and same time does the seating of the valve and checks the valve clearancing. I am just skeptical of drilling the guides and using bronze inserts. What are your thoughts on this job?

Edited April 7, 2010 by TriniGT

[r33_racer]

That trick is commonly done in all kinds of motors and has been around for ages. Nothing wrong with it when done properly, though its more so for old cast iron heads that dont have a "pressed/insert type" valve guide, the guide is the hole in the head itself and once flogged out, it gets drilled and a new guide, most commonly made of bronze(alu or phospher bronze) is pressed or threaded in and then reamed to suit.

If they do that on most motors, then they should be able to just remove your old ones and press in your new ones (whether std cast iron from nissan or aftermarket bronze type) and then ream/hone/cut seats and valves to suit and check lash.