Valve Seal replacement

I'm trying to convince someone to let me keep my '66 GTO instead of selling it for less that what it is worth. Their main arguement for selling it? It doesn't run and I need a car. My reasons for wanting to keep it....The only reason it doesn't run is because I blew the valve seals a couple years ago, It was my first car, It's worth more than she thinks it is worth (and much more once I actually clean it up again).... and most importantly....IT'S A FRIGGIN GTO!!

So... Since I'm looking at either getting the engine fixed on the car so I can drive it, or having it sold out from under me and having the money used to buy me a shitbox... Can anybody here give me an idea of what kind of cost I might be looking at to get the seals replaced? (I know pricing may vary, so just a ballpark would do).

The engine is a pontiac 400ci V-8. It's not the original, so I don't know the exact year, but based off some of the other part's I've gotten for it, I'm guessing early 70's vintage. I know the car's valve Seals need replaced, and I should also replace the water temp and oil pressure sensors while at it. How much should I expect to pay for the labor and parts in a repair of this level? I'm thinking a couple grand... but I was wondering for sure.

(Also, If anybody in the Atlanta,GA area....or more specifically, from the Decatur/Lithonia area up to the Duluth area know of a good shop which I can trust the car with who I might be able to get a more precise quote from, Please pass the info along to me. Thanks!)

Daryl
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Maybe you're confusing valve seals with valve seats. If regular unleaded fuel was run in an old vehicle with high compression and without hardened valve seats, it would ruin the valves and seats pretty quickly. Having the heads re-done could cost as much as $800 if you need new valves. Hope this helps.

If you have white smoke pouring out, you don't have bad valve seals. Speaking from experience, it could be a bad head gasket or a cracked block or head. But, and this is a BIG but, if this engine has been sitting around for any time, it is highly likely that water has rusted the pistons (actually the rings) in place in the block. Now we are talking a total rebuild, even if the block and heads are OK. Simplest fix is to do what others have suggested, swap in a different engine.

I used to shop at a junkyard on 78 near Douglasville. They had lots of '60s era cars, but this was 20 years ago. Don't remember the name, and the town might be Austel.