I am considering buying a 1995 Camaro with an LT1 and 4-speed auto. The seller thinks the head gasket is blown. I am in California, what is the likely repair or engine replacement cost? I would like to do it properly. Thanks for your help.

 

Depends, whats the car doing? Do you know why he thinks there is a cracked head gasket? And are you going to do it yourself? Total price if you do it yourself (depending If you find any damage when you take the head off ) would probably be about 30 bucks for the gasket and to get the head machined would probably be about 80-100. Also make sure you do a compression check on both sides to make sure what Head and where is leaking

So when its all said and done probably about 4 hours of your time depending on your mechanic skills and 150 to be on the safe side. If you plan on having it done i think the going rate is about 750-800 from any commercial mechanic shop.

 

I have some experience with this exact situation. I picked up my '97 Z28 M6 from a guy who told me the head gasket was blown(chocolate on the dipstick). Well, I did some research and decided just to pull the engine out the top to do a complete rebuild. The car/engine/trans has 160k on it, so I figured I would just do a complete rebuild. Well, after I started taking the engine apart under the hood, I realized it would be way easier out the bottom. So that's what I did. I left the tranny on the engine, and just dropped the entire thing out the bottom. Well, I separated the engine from the tranny and took the tranny to the tranny shop to have them at least take a look at it while it's out. They went thru it and told me it would cost $1800 for a complete rebuild, which is what he said it needed. I checked around and that was actually a good deal. I ended up finding a used tranny that was rebuilt recently and paid $1050 for it. So as far as the engine is concerned, I just disassembled it in my garage and took all the parts down down to my local engine shop. I had them clean and inspect all my parts to check for cracks. I'm also having my heads resurfaced and a valve job done. All new freeze plugs, cam bearings pressed in, etc. Then they are ordering a master rebuild kit for me so I can put it all back together. All of this work/parts is costing me $1300. Also, I am putting a performace cam/springs/rockers in, for another $700. Adding headers and new y-pipe with high flow cats. Got the headers new for $200 and the Y-pipe for about $140. Plus, i'm having my PCM reprogrammed at PCMFORLESS for another $190. Also needed a new clutch disc and various other parts. The LT1 engine is a pretty complicated design but with basic tools should be pretty easy to rebuild. What i'm trying to say is that it is very time consuming and expensive, more than I thought possible. I too thought I would just slap on a head gasket but after talking to several engine specialists, that sounds like a horrible idea. You got water where the oil belongs, now your bearings are probably trashed. If your gonna do it, just rebuild the entire engine. If you just want a stock LT1 rebuilt long block, you can get one for about $1800. It is a lot of work but in the end would definitely be worth it. A basically new drivetrain in a sweet Z28 for around $5k. HARD TO BEAT.

 

Hi guys, my first post about my 1994 Z28! I think I also have a blown head gasket, runs rough, chocolate milkshake oil. Can I get the heads out with the engine in the car? I will do both at the same time. I just picked it up locally for $250 bucks from a dumbass kid. I towed it home backward on a dolly, 5 miles, and I will be doing all the work myself. Where is the best place to get a used dash cover up under the windshield? Do wrecking yards have them, or do I go new? Also, ,seat covers or drivers side fabric to reair what I have in grey and black cloth. Thanks, Carl

 

Yes, you can remove the heads with the engine in the car.

Check Contemporary Corvette (do a Google search). They have tons of f-body parts.

Also, I would recommend starting your own thread so you don't hijack this one from the OP.

 

Note that too much bearing exposure to coolant can ruin them and you might end up having to do a full rebuild. Something to consider.

 

Thanks for the info guys....I think I might go ahead.