Most of us, including me, have our heads rebuilt at a machine shop. I have seen people use dry ice to shrink the guides to force them out...and doing the same in reverse to install. Then lapping the valves to the seats, without any griding. New stem seals and used guides. Beating them out may work, but installation I would never try with an air hammer. A press, maybe.

I paid $300 in labor and about the same in parts (incl gasket and bolts) after all the dust settled for my head. 12 guides, 12 seals, skimmed 0.005" (and timing cover), 12 springs.

If you are on a super tight budget, try fixing the oil leaks the M103 is notorious for before anything else (stem seals too). Your consumption may be less than you expect and something tolerable around 1000 miles per quart. At 322k, mine is minimal after a 1000 mile trip with some speeds at 90mph for extended time. Probably around one quart per 3000-4000 miles. Granted mine is all sealed up with a very slight valve cover leak that pisses me off.

Oh, I read something about the rubber seal in the valve cover that seals the PCV system causes leaks. I removed one and it fell apart by hand. Easy for oil mist to be sucked up and consumed!

Hopefully 'S-class Guru' chimes in, he has had his car since new I believe and and give you the full scoop on loss versus consumption.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]