need some machine shop advise

[69heavychevy]

I want to get some cylinder heads cleaned up. I want to take them to a machine shop and have them do it. Problem is i've never set foot in a machine shop and dont know what to ask for. Keep in mind all i need is to have them cleaned i.e. carbon build, chipped paint, dirty coolant passages ect. So what service do i ask for and how much should i expect to pay. i'm just trying not to get ripped off. thanks in advanced.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

They call it Hot Tanked. They put them in a heated caustic solution overnight & it removes everything. Paint, rust, carbon & sludge. I don't know what it costs any more as I havn't had any done for a long time.

[Davetopay]

There's a ton of other little things to have done as well. You can have them surfaced, check the valve guide clearance, clean up the valve seats....let us know more about the heads and we can give you some more specific pointers.

[beautimus]

Keep in mind that hot tanking a set of heads WILL eat up the rubber valve stem seals. So, you will want to have new seals put in. their not expensive, and this is a good time to go ahead and have new ones installed anyway.
The reason i am saying this is so you will know that the machine shop guys aren't trying to rip you off if they suggest putting seals in. oh, there are several types of valve seals, if your heads will accept the umbrella seals they are much better than the o ring type.

[vectorit]

I suggest just going in with your heads and ask about getting them rebuilt.
You may think about buying a set of valve springs from your favorite brand, and bring them in along with your heads. A lot of times they will just replace whats needed, reusing what you have and grabbing a used tested good spring from their stock. This isn't ripping you off or anything, it's just the shop trying to save you cash. Bringing in a set of springs, most of my experience has been that they like that. Since it makes the job quicker for them, meaning they don't have to worry about your old springs.

Ask about package deals, since they usually save you money. Going ala carte on things can be more expensive for you in the long run.

Cleaning them is typically standard.
Have them magnafluxed to check for cracks.
Make sure they are set up for unleaded fuel, if not have hardened seats installed.

That's pretty much the standard on getting heads done in my experience.

Also, I like to mark my cylinder heads with my initials. That way I get back my set that I brought in, and not some other persons set that may have something different about them from mine.

[69heavychevy]

the heads are 906 vortecs that came of a wrecked 96 yukon with 100k on the odometer. the heads themselves are pretty clean, just minimal carbon build up, nothing a wire brush wont take care of. but if i can them cleaned for around $20-30 then i then id rather do that and save myself some agony in the texas heat.

[68GMCCustom]

with 100k...if you're going to have them off...there's no reason NOT to go ahead and have a valve job done. This will get your valves checked and faced, and your seats checked out and cut, along with your spring pressures checked out and new valve seals. They'll also check your guides as part of the work...and you'll get the VAT job done on them w/o asking as its part of the valve job...as is a coat of paint.

Well...at least when I was rebuilding heads in the late 70's it was that way.