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> Where should I send my heads, Opinions needed
BenNC
post Jul 25 2006, 02:08 PM
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After many,many,..., many moons of admiring the view perched from my jackstands, I'm finally getting around to doing something with my car.

I need to have the heads redone, and am pretty much stuck with shipping them somewhere. Where's the best place for a balance of price and quality.

Thanks for the help.

Ben
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Bleyseng
post Jul 25 2006, 02:12 PM
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For 2.0L heads there is only one man IMHO close by to you too..Len Hoffman at HAM in Georgia..


Beautiful work and the effin valve seats don't come out!!!

A balance between quality and price??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

You get what you pay for- excellent or crap.
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KenH
post Jul 25 2006, 03:15 PM
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Len is good but way too expensive for basic head work.

Try: Audirac VW's Headflow Masters 2466 South Santa Fe Avenue Suite F Vista, CA (California) 92084-8008 Phone: (760) 727-1827

I have had 2 sets of heads done by him with no problems.

Jake used him before he and Len got together.

Ken
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quik914
post Jul 25 2006, 03:18 PM
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I have to give a vote to Len. He did mine and they are works of art. He really is not that expensive for what you get. Do you want to increase the valve sizes and do any port work? What type of induction are you looking to use? Motor size? If you are looking for high performance, you can't go wrong with Len.

Just my 2 cents...
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BenNC
post Jul 25 2006, 03:21 PM
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I know, I know spell it por$che

Fortunately the "up on jackstands" interval has seen a dramatic improvement in my financial situation (thank you sugar momma), so Lens prices look pretty reasonable to me (verstus 6 months worth of 914 budget). Shipping to Georgia would also be convenient.

Any other suggestions?
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BenNC
post Jul 25 2006, 03:23 PM
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Oops, got distracted mid-reply (dang that work). Thanks for the additional suggestions.
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Gint
post Jul 25 2006, 03:30 PM
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QUOTE(BenNC @ Jul 25 2006, 03:21 PM) *

I know, I know spell it por$che

Fortunately the "up on jackstands" interval has seen a dramatic improvement in my financial situation (thank you sugar momma), so Lens prices look pretty reasonable to me (verstus 6 months worth of 914 budget). Shipping to Georgia would also be convenient.

Any other suggestions?


How much more $$ are we talking about here?
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BenNC
post Jul 25 2006, 03:47 PM
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Not to much past Len's prices. Mostly just looking to build a mostly stock (maybe slightly warmer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ) engine.

Got plenty of other places to sink $$

That said, I can be corrupted.

Any estimate on Audriac's pricing or a website.
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2-OH!
post Jul 25 2006, 03:47 PM
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I like and have used Jerry at Northwest Connecting Rod (Seattle)...Always done great work, very reasonably...Never had a return...

206-763-2487

2-OH!
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tat2dphreak
post Jul 25 2006, 03:58 PM
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I would think even RIMCO could do a stock rebuild that would be fine, but that's the budget side of me...
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anthony
post Jul 25 2006, 04:18 PM
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Jake's new 2L "LE190" heads cost $1540. How much does it cost to have a typical set of 2L heads refurbished by Len?
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KenH
post Jul 25 2006, 04:47 PM
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Call Len and get a quote - he is easy to talk to.

http://www.haminc.biz/main.shtml

Ken
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KenH
post Jul 25 2006, 05:03 PM
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http://www.audirac-vws.com/

Ken
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Krieger
post Jul 25 2006, 05:18 PM
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RIMCO in Santa Ana CA did mine 10 years ago and I still beat the crap out of 2.3L. Prices were reasonable and they have benn doing aicooled work for probably 25 years.
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jk76.914
post Jul 25 2006, 05:48 PM
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EBS Racing did mine back in 2002. EBS advertises in every issue of Excellence- Engine Builders Supply. Nice work, and the heads haven't given any problems at all. EBS is in Sparks, Nevada.

Prices (November 2002):

3 angle valve job- $285 pair.
They recommended that I reuse my valves. Only 95k street miles. I always appreciate it when the tradesman tells me that I don't have to put money into parts... especially when we're talking about sodium-filled valves. Price included replacement of the guides, however.

resurface both heads- $65 pair.

plug and weld air injection ports- $40 for all 4 ports. These are '76 2.0 heads.

I went to them because they have done literally hundreds of aluminum air-cooled heads. They prepared me for having to weld cracks near spark plugs, but then called and said they were clean.

Also, my rods. They reconditioned, balanced, installed new bushings, reamed the bushings to fit the four new pins I sent along. Total for the rods was $144.

Shipping was $24 back to Massachusetts. Turnaround was about 3 weeks, I think.

No basis of comparision, price wise. Didn't know this forum existed back then, so I went ahead without much guidance.

Good Luck!
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DanT
post Jul 25 2006, 05:58 PM
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I just checked RimcoVW website and was astonished.....

914 heads for a complete reconditioning (depending on valves used) $1205 per head. SAY WHAT? Is that a misprint or....?

Makes those brand new heads from Jake look pretty sweet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

for under $1600, 2 brand new heads....
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Randal
post Jul 25 2006, 06:07 PM
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QUOTE(Dan (Almaden Valley) @ Jul 25 2006, 04:58 PM) *

I just checked RimcoVW website and was astonished.....

914 heads for a complete reconditioning (depending on valves used) $1205 per head. SAY WHAT? Is that a misprint or....?

Makes those brand new heads from Jake look pretty sweet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

for under $1600, 2 brand new heads....



Gee, I wonder what a really good set of heads would cost?

Say ones that flowed a maximum of 202.3 cfm at .500 (intake) and 144.9 at .500 (exhaust) totally refreshed and with a matching cam. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)
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nebreitling
post Jul 25 2006, 06:19 PM
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you're awful, randal....
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Bleyseng
post Jul 25 2006, 06:21 PM
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Sorry to say it but 95% of the 2.0 914 heads are cracked at the spark plug and need welding. Seats need to come out and usually the plug crack goes into the valve seat area. More welding.

New seats need to be installed properly so they don't fall out if the head temps hit 400F which shit happens.
Len has it down to repair these heads, Adrian does a good job too. Jerry stakes his seats in which I don't like.

Like I said Len is close and does beautiful work for a fair price.

You can buy new 914 2.0l heads now for only $1400 each bare.
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Jake Raby
post Jul 25 2006, 06:54 PM
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NO ONE does heads like Len! I have used every other soul on the planet and on his worst day Len is better than his closest competitor on their best!

Generally rebuilding and upgrading a set of 2.0 heads costs 1K at minimum with updated hardware. Then you still have a 30 year old head thats been heat cycled millions of times.

Start from scratch and be done with it. Beware, we just bought every new head casting we could find due to the prices going up because of the Euro exchange rates. After August 1 all head prices will go up 160.00 per pair.

Skimp on heads and you'll end up on the side of the road, no one touches my heads but Len.
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