blown head gasket

[aberdeenSHO]

i've got a blown head gasket... for one thing is there anything i should tell the guy to do while replacing it? I've had bad luck with the mechanics around here and i really don't want him screwing up my engine. Any help would be much appriciated. Oh and is 1300$ a decent price?

 

[GreenBird]

I'd say $1300 is OK. My dad had the HGs go three times on his 3.8L (over 350K miles).

I would rebuild the entire engine if you can afford it. Many times when a HG goes, it fouls up the bottom end.

Get a new radiator and do a coolant flush.

Mill the deck and the heads (careful on how much, or you can totally wreck your engine), you need a clean mounting or they will just blow again.

Use Fel-pro gaskets.

Do it yourself if you can. this is a job that is mostly labor.

 

[JC]

ive had the head gasketts blow on my 91... i started to do it myself and got about halfway into the engine when i chicked out. i had a local family owned shop take over where i left off and do it for $700. So yes, you got a decent price. make sure they check the block, a crack could blow it all again... plus worse (from what ive been told)

 

[bensho92]

oh come on 1300$ for doing the head gaskets.
where are you located i can take you to a good shop here in bowling green KY and get it done for under 800$ including parts and labor.
by the way if you need new heads i have a set with 108k on them for 100$