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So my timing belt went out while I was driving a couple days ago and I was fortunate enough that the engine still started after it was replaced. The mechanic told me that I've bent the valve guides and valves on my 3rd cylinder (I suspect the other cylinders are probably bent a little too.) My question is would it be easier to replace the valves and valve guides (I'd probably just replace all of them while I'm at it) or to just buy an entirely new cylinder head. If the 2nd option, wheres the best place to find a cylinder head; if the 1st, what all would I need other than a gasket set, valves, and valve guides. would i need new springs too?

its cheaper to go to a JY and find a good head and just put new seals in it and be done with it. But if you want the peace of mind and dont mind spending the money then yeah have a machine shop press in new valve guides, lap new valves in, resurface the head and reassemble it.

Be sure that the machine shop knows what they are doing. Pressing guides into the 2.0 head is really easy to screw up (this according to Dodge themselves).

Check the FS board here, I believe there may be an R/T head for a very reasonable amount.

The small machine shop that installed my exhaust guides must of had a clue, as they have lasted a good 50,000 ish miles so far. The head is now on it's second car, enjoying a nice 10.3:1 C.R.

To be honest, I don't know why they would be any harder to install than any other engine, but that is what I heard years ago from a Chrysler insider. I wish I could remember who it was though

I have heard that they can break the head somehow? Of course this was after I had mine done. For the cost of everything I could have done the R/T bare casting/valves for a bit more. (This was Mancini's clearance priced heads) I prolly would have gone that route, had I known the risk...

to the OP for comparison, i had my head redone with new guides, resurfaced, and cleaned and my bill was 220$ from the machine shop. that doesnt include the 60$ for new guides or a valve job.

r/tguy02 wrote:to the OP for comparison, i had my head redone with new guides, resurfaced, and cleaned and my bill was 220$ from the machine shop. that doesnt include the 60$ for new guides or a valve job.

That's similar to what I had done.
They pressed new guides, cut the seats, pressure washed, and planed the surface for about $200.
None of that included the new valves and springs.

Buy another head. Clean it up. Then swap it for yours. That way there's less downtime between when your head comes off and when it goes back on.