TBI needs valve seals and intake gasket - fix what I have or upgrade?

[tj43]

My 88' TBI definitely needs valve seals and probably needs an intake gasket. Should I just fix what I have or just buy a set of nice mild (aluminum?) heads that have all new valvetrain components? If the latter, what are the best options for replacement heads that would bolt right up to the old TBI without any modifications to other systems?

Thanks in advance.

 

[waterpirate]

If it is not your daily driver, fix what you have. If daily driver you should get complete heads and install on your day off. .02
Eric

 

[Bextreme04]

Depending on where you live and how bad the heads you have are... it likely doesn't make sense to rebuild stock heads. I'd call a few machine shops in the area and see what it would cost for cleaning, magnaflux/pressure check, valve job and guides. If it is in the $500-700 range like it is here in Oregon, then it is the same cost or a little more to just get new heads that perform WAY better than the junky TBI heads. Summit has a good set of world products knockoff heads that are comparable to Vortec heads while retaining the TBI intake pattern for under $700 and Skip white has a great set of aluminum AFR Enforcer heads, ready to run, for under $1000/set. Both of those would be a big performance improvement over the stock TBI heads.

 

[tj43]

Bextreme04, that is where my head is as well. I suspect my heads are just fine other than the seals. The truck is very low mileage and runs well other than oil burning at startup.

My calculus is: if I have to pull the intake for the gasket, it isnt that much more work to pull the heads for a head replacement—especially if you factor in the time I would have to spend to replace the valve seals on the car.