So previously i posted that i blew a head gasket. the guy who wants to fix it claims that it would take 14 hours of labor at $65 per hour, he wants to do a valve job and flatten or shave the heads or something so that the bottom will get a nice seal with the new gaskets. total for that project is $1800-2000...first of all, is that too much labor or too much work for used heads?

option B if you arent a math major is that the valve job and parts alone is going to cost $1090 under his plan.

my plan, is that i should buy aftermarket heads like LT4 or something similar for around $1200 (assuming that includes everything that is needed for install like gaskets and valve springs) now, the LT4 heads require the LT4 intake right? if so, i would need some CNC stage II heads that are no more than $600 a piece that would work with the factory intake. that job will be $2110, which in my opinion new stage II heads for the price of used LT1s is a steal!


ideas anyone???

 

you're getting reemed big time, that's nuts.
If you have a weekend you can R&Rl the heads.

The heads should be planed, which is what he's talking about incase they are warped at all, so they are flat and seal properly.

Cheapest way out would be to take your heads off, send them out to a machine shop, and put them on with new gaskets.

If you've got the funds, get a new set of heads and bolt them up with new gaskets.

 

you bastard you drive a 442!

anyways, my dad is kind of an idiot when it comes to cars, he just wants to give it to someone and have them pay for it, im more for doing it ourselves. this place will give us a big warranty which is a plus, but $2000 is excessive to me to machine a little and take some valve covers off.

so a machine shop should do the surfacing...how difficult would it be to take the heads off ourselves? i mean to me, you take off the valve covers, take off two bolts and you're done, but i dont know where the valves and pushrods are, so that could be an issue.

 

Thats too much.

But if you are not mechanically inclined/Don't have a clue.
I would look around for a GOOD shop that will do it for less.

REMEMBER: the cheapest place most likely isn't the best..

 

It's a little more involved then just pulling the heads off.

I spent a good 2 months doing my car, however once I pulled those heads off, I went freaking hog wild on the car.

 

Head gaskets are pretty easy (time consuming maybe).. but I spent ~500 bux. Including replacing the ignition module (my friend broke), 3 oil changes, having the heads decked and ported, all the gaskets, and a few misc tools I didnt have. Saved a TON of money doing it myself.

 

im just kinda upset that im paying one third the price of a brand new LS1 to fix a head gasket. im going to call some places tomorrow, but i dont think doing it ourselves is an option. ill just need to call around. is the valve job nessicary? the car only has 70k miles, but its a 93...does that include new valves and pushrods or just reworking the intakes?

 

I'd reccomend doing it yourself if you're mechanically inclined, sending the heads to Lloyed Elliot, getting them ported and putting them back on yourself. Either way, I'd trust Lloyed over your local guy...might consider a cam with the money you'll save doing it yourself

 

Where in Texas are you located??? If close I may be able to help for a small fee!!!

 

dallas

 

You're getting ripped off, but not as bad as you think...

Labor (14 hours times $65/hour) is $910

Gaskets

Heads... $70-75

Intake... $20

Exhaust... $20

Valve covers $25

Shave the heads $60

Valve job $240

Assuming he uses new valves/seals/etc...

Valves... $130

Springs, seals, locks, retainers... $100

He should be able to do it for $1600 or so and still turn a profit. And $65/hour is about right for a good mechanic who knows what he's doing.

 

he fixed my aunts truck, which is a 97 Silverado 2500 long box extended cab, she has put like 150,000 miles on it and she did some kind of seal damage, although it wasnt head related and they were fair and she got a 24 month 24,000 warranty or something like that for it, which is pretty good considering. im going to call some places tomorrow and tell them what has to be done and see if they give me similar figures

 

He may be giving you an inflated price because he doesn't want to work on the car. I've had that happen before.

Price for work on the 97... $$$$$

Price for work on the 87... $$

And that was quoted by the same guy for the same job within two weeks.

 

he knows the older car means less to you. since the 97 has more monetary value its more important and demanding that you get it fixed. if he quotes you the same price on the 80's car you might just say **** it, thats too old of a car to spend that much, but on the 97 he feels like he can charge whatever.

 

Can you blame him

Just kidding, its not that bad...but its not that easy either, as I'm sure you know.