I’m currently looking into a 1996 1500. The owner says the only issues are a bad valve seat and the front U joints are shot and drive shaft is in the back. I’m used to working on just about everything but the engine block itself so I’m not too worried about the drive shaft and u joints but the valve seat is something I am completely in the blind about. Is that a generally easy fix or something that’s going to be a pain in the butt to work on?

 

If you have to pull the heads, just replace them. They sucked when they were new, and are VERY prone to cracking. Replacements can be had for around 600 bucks or so, and those are NEW castings, with thicker decks, so, not as prone to crack.

That said, I don't see these heads drop valve seats very often......... and if it did, there may be more damage than meets the eye. Taking a looking inside the cylinder in question with a bore scope really wouldn't be a bad idea. I think you can rent them from the local auto parts stores.

 

What all should I be looking for when doing so?

 

See if it really did drop the valve seat, and if it did, did it get loose, and beat the crap out of the cylinder head, and top of the piston.

 

That's if they break, Usually they will loosen then wobble around in the head. After it wears it can come out of the head and keep the valve from closing. If it gets to stage then it can break and do some real damage.