Cracked Valve Guides

[edmundturner]

Hey guys and gals!
Need some advice. Ive searched and read thru the forums , but i just need further confirmation and advice.

I pulled my head last weekt to change my head gasket. After cleaning the head, i noticed cracks on 5 of my valve guides!!!. They are slight hairline cracks about 2-3 mm in lenght. Considering my location, It will be quite difficult and costly for me to get them changed.

I have been asking around with different mechanics, and most of them have adviced me to ignore it!

Some have even boasted that they have race cars with ALL 16 cracked valve guides and have not experienced any problems with it! How far is this true?
I dont want to prove them wrong, but i just wanted some feedback on the worse possible problems i may face by reusing my cracked valve guides. Do you think this is advisable?

I only plan to replace the valve guides later. I plan to order a set of bronze valve guides which i will probably receive in March.
What do you guys think?

edmund

 

[noreaga0221]

You shouldn't have a problem ignoring them. I raced with 16 damaged ones before. Some even missing.

 

[BISHILVR]

You shouldn't have a problem ignoring them. I raced with 16 damaged ones before. Some even missing.

i have to throw the bs flag on this one.....i really doubt that you raced with your valve guides missing bro'........if you are'nt burning much oil right now with them cracked then you should be ok until march on them the way they are.............

 

[edmundturner]

Ive never noticed any blue/white smoke from the exhaust at all and I always do look out for tell-tale signs such as that. Ill probably try my luck with the cracked guides and hope it lasts untill March. from now till March,there are 3 drag race weekends coming up here. Im contemplating if its adviceable to enter knowing that i have cracked valve guides.


Im boosting at 23-25psi with a 20G TD06H, stock 1G,redline at 7.5K rpm with accompanying mods.

edmund

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Why even chance it?

If you are going to take it to the track I would deff get them replaced.