Head Gasket options?

So it finally happened. My head gasket blew. Took it to my normal mechanic and he quoted me $2000 for the job. I feel like that's a bit steep...

So what are my options? Do you think I can get a better deal somewhere else? (I'm in the Socal area) A friend of mine is a pretty good mechanic and has a really great shop (diesel specialist I think though), I might be able to have him do it for me with my help.

Considering this is the third time this month I've had to take it into for repairs I'd rather not spend $2k if I don't have to. Any advice would be great!

Depends. If 2k includes machining the heads that's really not that bad if a deal

Depends. If 2k includes machining the heads that's really not that bad if a deal

I believe so, is that necessary tho?

Check with m sprank. He owns IP&T in Escondido and does great work. His prices are certainly competitive and he's an awesome site-sponsoring vendor.

Like Brian said if that's with machining it's not a bad deal. But still call around, when I was looking into it in Western Washington, I was quoted anywhere from $1800-$3500 if you can believe that discrepancy.

Factory/OEM vs Cometic?

 

Worthwhile upgrade to ARP head studs?

 

Just pulled the engine, looking at options.

OEM. Cometic headgaskets are not made very well, and sometimes leak a little. Specially if both the block and heads are not 100% flawlessly machined. OEM ones are only $45 each IIRC

How do you know the head gasket blew? Coolant in the oil? Oil in the coolant?? Coolant dripping out of the cases??

 

$2K is really steep. Granted, everything in SoCal is steep compared to most of the rest of the country, but I digress.

 

If you're pulling the motor, it's really a great idea to rebuild the heads completely. I spent ~$560 including all 8 new exhaust valves and 2 intake valves. And, since the shortblock is out I would inspect the hell out of it. If still OEM pistons and you're running around tuned, I would be at a minimum popping the pistons out and inspecting them very closely for impending ringland failure, etc. That is, if you're getting skewed compression numbers because of a head gasket failure, you may not know what you have internally and if you have to pull the motor anyways... golly it's worth the effort once the motor is out of the car. It's the fun part once the motor is out and you can inspect the guts...

 

If your pistons and bores are good, a set of rings and the heads done (if the valves are fine, you could just clean them and re-surface).... if your friend gives you a good deal you should be around or under $2K

How do you know the head gasket blew? Coolant in the oil? Oil in the coolant?? Coolant dripping out of the cases??

 

$2K is really steep. Granted, everything in SoCal is steep compared to most of the rest of the country, but I digress.

 

If you're pulling the motor, it's really a great idea to rebuild the heads completely. I spent ~$560 including all 8 new exhaust valves and 2 intake valves. And, since the shortblock is out I would inspect the hell out of it. If still OEM pistons and you're running around tuned, I would be at a minimum popping the pistons out and inspecting them very closely for impending ringland failure, etc. That is, if you're getting skewed compression numbers because of a head gasket failure, you may not know what you have internally and if you have to pull the motor anyways... golly it's worth the effort once the motor is out of the car. It's the fun part once the motor is out and you can inspect the guts...

 

If your pistons and bores are good, a set of rings and the heads done (if the valves are fine, you could just clean them and re-surface).... if your friend gives you a good deal you should be around or under $2K

 

I first suspected something was wrong when there was oil in the coolant, then it started misfiring, then it overheated. I took it into tokyo automotive in Anaheim, which is like 5 mins from my house. They did a pressure test on the gaskets and it failed.

 

Yeah the 2k estimate includes machining the heads i believe. And my car isn't tuned or anything, it's pretty much stock. I've spent all my tuning money on repairs...

 

Anyways that was about a week ago and I haven't really heard anything from the shop so I'm assuming they were right about the head gasket and haven't found any other problems. Otherwise they would've called me. Knowing Tokyo automotive they probably took everything apart and checked all the pistons and whatnot.

Check with m sprank. He owns IP&T in Escondido and does great work. His prices are certainly competitive and he's an awesome site-sponsoring vendor.

 

Yeah I should've done that, I've only heard good things about IP&T. But his shop is a solid 1 1/2 hours from me and I really didn't want to drive my car that far in its current condition

Its SoCal. I commute an hour a day to the shop, lol.

 

The price is legit though (as long as it includes freshening up the heads). Anyone any where in the country estimating less than that should throw up a red flag (that they might not be all that familiar with what they are doing). Price should also include a timing belt kit.

 

If you were my customer I would give you an estimate for freshening up the bottom end too (even if just a hone, swapping bearings and adding new OEM rings). We normally charge around $3500-$3700 for that type of "build".