Anyone know the most economical way to get my valve guides replaced on my 82 F250? #1 exhaust is starting to make noise...might as well have them all done..What do ya think I'm looking at as far as money is concerned? Thanks!!

 

why do you think it needs valve guides? if it is noisy, it may just need adjusting. it may also need lifters.
valveguide wear symptoms are usually blue /grey smoke when you start up, especially if truck has been sitting for a few hours, and vacuum problems, such as rough idle. i would do a vacuum check to see if you get fluctuation of needle at idle , that goes away as you rev engine.

 

The cheapest fix, if it is really problems in your head (or heads) is to pull the head off and take it to a machine shop, have them do a complete valve job. It should cost between $100-$150 including a new set of gaskets.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik

 

That's $100-$150 per head.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik

 

I checked with my friend, worked for Ford for 25 years. Took the spark plug wire off of the #1 and quite as a mouse. He said that with no spark, there's no pressure on the valves, and that the ticking was not the lifter, but the valve stem slapping inside the sleeve. He quoted me about $500.00 to redo both heads. Is he still a friend? Let me know....Talk to ya all later.
Steve

 

That depends...that's a fair price if he pulls the heads, reinstalls them, and sets the valves. The $100-$150 was for headwork when I handed them the head and said to fix it, but I removed it and installed it.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik