300Es leaking oil - advice on a valve job?

[Wayne Lindholm]

My mechanic says both my '89 (178k) and '90 (150k) - 300Es could use new head gaskets and a valve job. They run strong and have good, even compression but both leak oil from the head gasket and timing chain cover area. Oil consumption is consistently 1 qt./1200 miles on each. I want to eliminate the mess on the garage floor and the smell of oil burning on the exhaust manifold.

What are the essential 'must dos' in performing a good valve job? Some shops I called say they send the head out for refurbishing; others say they check for flatness and if OK, put it back on with new gaskets.

At home: Is this a job that can be handled at home by a weekend mechanic? Any special tools needed? Where could I get a procedure to follow? Can any good automotive machine shop refurbish the head?

At a shop: If I have it done at a shop, what is a reasonable price?

I appreciate any advice.