cost of valve adjustment?

ianbolin · 08-11-2005, 04:51 PM

im a newbie and and just had a PPI done (88 911) and it is clear that the valves probably need adjusted. Can someone give me a ball park?

walt · walt's Garage

I haven't priced it for some time but guesstimate 250-300. This is a good do-it -yourselfer with plenty of helful tips in the archives. Not very difficult at all, just takes some practice to find the gap.

Steeve · 08-11-2005, 05:14 PM

Not sure for your area, but I think it would be safe to budget $300-400. If you're mechanically inclined, it is supposed to be a very doable job. I haven't braved it myself yet, though. There is plenty of info on this site to walk you through it.

ianbolin · 08-11-2005, 05:18 PM

thanks guys. there are tons of tips on how to do them but I would feel comfortable giving it to a pro for the first time

Zeke · 08-11-2005, 05:34 PM

The cost of adjusting valves usually includes an oil change since the oil wants to run out with the bottom covers off. You can do this for the price of a gasket set and some sealing nuts if you raise one side of the car at a time and adjust the valves on the high side. And, you can order some silicone VC gaskets and use them over again. It's always a good idea to use new sealing nuts each time to prevent leaks.

That having been said, you could pull of a top cover and check out what's in there, maybe throw a feeler guage in there just to see what's going on. Can't hurt and you might decide to go ahead with it. Get a copy of 101 Projects from our host. You don't need hardly any more tools than what's in your tool kit.

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

I'm going to go against the majority. Ian, for as few times as your valves need adjusting, get it done right from a good Porsche wrench. I've done some work on my 88 coupe (oil return tubes, brakes, etc) but for something as temperamental as valve adjustments, I spend the ~$300 and have my wrench do it.

For every post here that gives you "tips, tricks, and how-to", I can find 3 where people have had problems and issues after performing the "do it yourself" valve adjustment.

Adjusting valves is easy.... after you've done it a dozen times. Why experiment with your ride?

kenikh · 08-12-2005, 08:45 AM

Seriously, adjusting valves on a Porsche is no harder than VW Beetle. It just has 2 more cylinders. I realize that some people make $100/hr on this BBS, but for most of us, saving that money and doing it yourself is essentially paying yourself back in labor more than you make during the work week. I just bought all of the goodies to do my tune up/valve adj/oil change and the grand total came to ~$65 including gaskets, plugs and oil. Much cheaper than a mechanic and less inconvenient in that you don't have to drop the car off the night before to have it cool off.

Use the technical article here to make the job easy.

If you want to make the job even easier, take a 4x4 piece of wood, cut it into two 18" lengths and cut a sharp incline in them using a radial arm saw to create a set of ramps. Driving your rear wheels up onto them gets the back end of the car up in the air, making screwing around with jacking up the car unnecessary. This is a great time saver and feels much safer than relying on a jack or screwing with jackstands.

If you don't own the tools, buy them; they are cheap and available on this website. Take the plunge. The more you get to know your car, the happier the both of you will be.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

I just had a local P mechanic do it here in LA for $325...they did a way better job than I could ever do (I tried it once) and I didnt get my hands dirty. Well worth the money imo.

petrolblue83911 · 08-12-2005, 09:04 AM

I do a lot of work on my car, most if it is fun-after the work is done..I don't think that paying a few hundred dollars to have a valve adj done is a bad idea, screwing it up and burning your valves is a much worse idea in my book..

I always have my mechanic fix one or two things a year just to make sure that I havent installed brakes backwards, or something...I think that a big part if it is finding someone you trust and enjoy working with. The $$ I spend on my mechanic I think is well spent and provides peace of mind! I'm no rich guy but I do know that saving a few hundred dollars and ending up with a 10k blown engine does'nt add up!

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kenikh
Seriously, adjusting valves on a Porsche is no harder than VW Beetle.

So what's your point? Maybe replacing a clutch in a 911 in no harder than replacing one in a VW. But if you don't know how to do it, what difference does it make?

kenikh · 08-12-2005, 09:25 AM

I was trying to impart a notion of simplicity to the problem. I guess it didn't work.

The point is that adjusting valves is easy and if you read the link I posted above, you literally now know how to adjust valves. I'm not saying don't spend your money getting your maintenance done. I am saying that you could buy a Wevo shifter and have change left over for the price of two valve adjustments.

kqw · 08-12-2005, 10:44 AM

$300.00 vs, $50.00 (parts/0il).

Adjusting valves is not that hard once you've done it a few times. The trick is to do it the first time.

It's actually very satisfying once completed.

Get the gauge tool, buy the oil and gasket kit and go for it.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

So it sounds like the concensus is practice on another car until you get good enough to work on your own? Any donor cars out there?

Tspringer · 08-12-2005, 11:12 AM

Screw it up? How do you screw it up?

A first timer may have to adjust and tighten each adjuster screw a couple of times to figure out how to tighten it without it moving and changing the gap, but its pretty clear when its right and when its not. I really do not see this being a "danger" thing at all.

The comments are correct: ITs EASY. Given, my little '69 its very easy to get around in the engine bay and on later models access may make it more of a knuckle buster but the basic game is the same.

It is one of the more simple mechanical jobs on a 911. It is just like a VW bug. Get the right tools (available right here), make sure you take the advice and order some extra feeler guage blades and go to it.

jmohn · jmohn's Garage

When I priced it a couple years ago the cost was $450 (included oil and filter change). I do my own (as so many have suggested) however, if you don't feel confident (I've done valves before, just not on a Porsche)or just don't want to, find a local shop (with a good reputation) and let them do the adjustment. IMHO adjusting valves isn't the "religious experience" some others find it to be.

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

gerry100 · 08-12-2005, 12:35 PM

3-4 hours labor at shop rate, plus a gasket set - $300-400.

ianbolin · 08-12-2005, 12:44 PM

well with all this healthy banter I have started... what is a good and affordable place in the Detroit area to have it done?

anthony · 08-12-2005, 12:52 PM

3 to 4 hours? And it takes how long for an experienced wrench to change the oil and adjust the valves - 30-45 actual minutes and another 15-20 minutes talking to the customer?

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

Don't be afraid.

If you can hold a wrench and turn a screw - you can adjust your valves. Much easier to adjust valves on a 911 than most imports but not as easy as a Chevy smallblock.

Not much to screw up - too loose and they make noise, too tight and you cannot remove/insert the feeler gauge.

x911x · 08-12-2005, 01:03 PM

Perhaps some Pelicans in your area that knows how to do it could help you out on a sunny day. I would love to go on a tech meet, an oil change, valve adjustment, brake pad/rotor replacement or whatever time permits.

I belong to the Mini Owners Association of Los Angeles we've done some tech meets in the past. All you need is a place to do it (your garage).

Just my .02