Head Gasket

Wow, I don't know much about imports, but that sounds like an outrageous price to me, I'd ask around. Do you have any friends who know how to do mechanic stuff? How hard could changing a gasket be...

And you're right, you could buy an engine cheaper than that from a junkyard, it'd be more after you paid the mechanic to switch it for you, but still.

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Original post by Rixter Wow, I don't know much about imports, but that sounds like an outrageous price to me, I'd ask around. Do you have any friends who know how to do mechanic stuff? How hard could changing a gasket be... And you're right, you could buy an engine cheaper than that from a junkyard, it'd be more after you paid the mechanic to switch it for you, but still.

I am most definitly going to be price shooping on this. Besides the fact I don't have even close to $1000, I feel the guy is just ripping me off. I looked it up, the gasket itself is $100. $900 for labor seems a bit much, but I don't know how to do it.

And even if the new engine+labor to install is more, it would be better solution becuase now I have a new engine. Knowing my luck, I'll get the gasket changed then the timing belt falls off or something.

I am trying to avoid financing a car, as the insurance would devastate me, but it is looking more like the best choice. I've lived on oodle's of noodles before, I can do it again.

You're lucky to pay $1000 for it. In England it costs almost double that.

Changing the HG requires stripping the whole engine down, skimming (filing) the facing edges, fitting and checking the HG, refitting the head, cams, belt / chain, setting up the timing, and doing a full oil and filter change. If they take the engine out of the car to do the job (highly likely), your $1000 will be a good price.

I figured it took taking most of the engine apart (how else could it be so expensive), but even at the very high end of $90 an hour for labor, that's 10 hours of work, I'd ask how much just for an entire engine rebuild, anyone know how many hours they usually charge for that?

A head gasket for a 240sx would cost like $80. Why can't you change it yourself?

All you need is a mini crane or a few grams of pcp to to life the engine out, it isn't that hard.

Eh, this is slightly related, but I had a new carburetor kit put in my '87 Civic for what should've been $180. (It's irrelevant, but my brother-in-law talked to the guy and got it knocked down to $125.) Now, a thousand bucks for a head gasket? Yeah, go to someone else.

I'm going to play the devil's advocate and say that they aren't cheating you (much). Dealing with engines is complicated. Not that I've got the exprience to say so, though.

You might be able to get it a bit lower but you should pay attention to what BlackSheep said. Replacing the head gasket is _all_ labor. It isn't a simple job to _completly_ remove an engine and everything it is attached to (which is in fact required to replace the head gasket). In fact I would suggest that you be wary of anyone willing to do it for significantly less then what you were quoted.

Actually the mechanic isn't overcharging you at all (as far as mechanics go). You said you don't know how to do it but it might be time to find a friend who will let you use his home garage and hoist for the price of some beer and pizza - and letting him laugh at you struggle and dive into a guide book you picked up at Pep Boys while you fight though it in a weekend.

Anyway - good luck... I know how it is :-P

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Original post by Stonicus Quote: Original post by Rixter Wow, I don't know much about imports, but that sounds like an outrageous price to me, I'd ask around. Do you have any friends who know how to do mechanic stuff? How hard could changing a gasket be... And you're right, you could buy an engine cheaper than that from a junkyard, it'd be more after you paid the mechanic to switch it for you, but still. I am most definitly going to be price shooping on this. Besides the fact I don't have even close to $1000, I feel the guy is just ripping me off. I looked it up, the gasket itself is $100. $900 for labor seems a bit much, but I don't know how to do it. And even if the new engine+labor to install is more, it would be better solution becuase now I have a new engine. Knowing my luck, I'll get the gasket changed then the timing belt falls off or something. I am trying to avoid financing a car, as the insurance would devastate me, but it is looking more like the best choice. I've lived on oodle's of noodles before, I can do it again.

Something that you have to understand is that you have to pull the engine to do this job. It takes hours of work.

That's the problem with stuff around the engine.. any time the engine has to be pulled, you pay out the rear, even if the parts are cheap. You won't be doing this job by yourself.

Pay the $1000 and thank your lucky stars it wasn't the transmission. I had a head gasket replaced on a 94 Mercury Sable a couple years a ago, and it cost $1300.