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Mon Nov 25, 2002 9:16 pm

I drive a 67 with a sunroof and just found out that i lost a valve guide during a long trip. When the valve cover was removed there were signs of pulverized brass.

The question is did a lot of metal get distributed through my engine and should I replace it or do I just replace the head on the side I lost valve.

I have been given both recommendations and I am lost.

Tue Nov 26, 2002 3:14 pm

How many miles do you estimate the engine has?
Alot in my mind depends on the age of the engine, the type of case (still and HO? ever been inserted(case savers) yet? ever rebuilt and align bored?) and the overall way it ran acted before it lunched the guide.

Have you pulled the drain plate and the screen to see how much metal migrated there?

I would look at what lies on the drain plate... if you see alot of the guide material then chances are some may have gotten sucked in the system and will have gone through the oil pump and to the bearings and crank journals...

If it looks like the material was contained in the valve cover and head and the plate is normal/clean then I would consider just doing a "top end" but I would say do both heads, unless the milage is really low on the whole thing.
I would also check the end play first and the oil pump tolerances and when the heads are off the condition of the cylinders ect...

Or some ( depending on funds and alot of other things) would just try and por boy one head on there and see how long it lasts...

Bottom line. your car, your $$$ your choice.

Tue Nov 26, 2002 6:42 pm

Pull the oil screen and check it out, and flush or replace the oil cooler. anything metal gets tore up, that's where it all collects. Beyond that, it all depends on the mileage, how many rebuilds it has had, and mainly what you want to do.