i think i'm in need of having my valve seals replaced. every time i start my car here lately i have a nice puff of smoke come out. my question is how much should i expect to pay for haveing the valve seals replaced or the heads rebuilt. or is this a pretty easy job to do .

 

You can do it yourself, depending on how well you know your way around the engine bay and how mechanically inclined you are. There are several good threads already about valve seal replacement if you want to search about what's all required.

 

It's a pretty simple job to do yourself. The only special tools required are a valve spring compressor, and if you're doing it with the heads still on the engine either an air holder or a length of nylon rope.

 

I just had the drivers side valve cover off and now i wish i hadn't, its all messed up in there. pretty nasty looking sludge everywhere. so, besides a air holder for doing the seals, how can i clean it up there?

 

I would not clean it unless you take the head off. Sounds like it's needs a basic rebuild.

I have changed my seals in the car using the air tool and it was fairly easy but it didnt help that much. I was on a major budget so I just bought a cheap re-ring kit, honed it myself and had the heads worked (this was a looong time ago) and that was the smoothest running lil TPI 305.

 

yeah, i think i'm just gonna replace the heads all together. i'm watching a set on ebay right now so as long as the price doesnt go too high i'll be good.

 

Why replace them? I would just rebuild your stockers and do a little port work if you want to add a bit of performance.

 

If it's that nasty up top, imagine what it will look like down low where gravity
pulls all the muck to. I'd pull the motor and do a re-ring, if you can....

 

while the head is off, see if you can check the valve guide clearance. the seals are important, but even good seals can do only so much when the valve stem is rattling around in the guide....that's where the oil is coming into the port anyway.
~Erik~