* another ****ty udpate*Blown Head gasket

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by Magnus:
did you actually see the crack?

I'd call them and tell them to do nothing until you see the crack.

yeah that too

[camaroincal]

Well I don't really want to do that because that would make things uncomfortable for everyone. I really don't want the guy to feel like I think he's a liar. I mean we've given him lots of business in the past few years and like I said my dad has done work for him at his house etc. I'm sure hell show me the cracked head when I pick the car up. Plus he found a used one for me so I mean, how much can a used head be like $50-100 if that?

Also, when he put the water pump on and ran tests, he said it looks like it's probably a cracked head. This now maks sense to me as the oil was fine, no milkyness at all, just some coolant leaking. So the gasket was probably ok, just had a crack in the head leaking some coolant.

[camaroincal]

Final price =$2178 :eek: [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/omg.gif[/img] .....and that's without and porting and polishing. I'll get the car back next week. I'm beginning to hate cars... [img]graemlins/rant.gif[/img]

btw that includes the new water pump +installation for that and getting the head shipped in from somewhere and new oil/filter and coolant, valve job yada yada and whatver else they had to do... :rolleyes:

[ May 17, 2004, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: camaroincal ]

[Brett Garret]

DON'T DO IT. FOR GOD SAKES JUST GET A NEW ENGINE! Get an ls1 for that price.

[camaroincal]

Originally posted by Brett Garret:
DON'T DO IT. FOR GOD SAKES JUST GET A NEW ENGINE! Get an ls1 for that price.

Well here's the thing. When it was first diagnosed as a blown head gasket and possibly a cracked head, he gave me an estimate of ATLEAST $1500. I said earlier that we have gone to this mechanic for years, but I didn't mention that his prices are a little higher than others in this area of the world. But, he's always done a good job on the work, never had any problems after having something fixed by him. So...Since I have a cracked head they had to call around to find one and have it shipped and both heads are going to the machinist for the valve job and all that stuff. So the $1500 was out the window I knew that much. Plus that $1500 didn't include the water pump he installed.

The real killer is the time involved in taking off the top end and machining the heads. I live in the bay area of California where all mechanics charge around $100 an hour. Most people in other parts of the US are probably only charged around $50-60 an hour. So right there is a big difference. Also there is no way I could have done this myself as I don't have the time, tools or no how involved in this project.

About a new engine. Yes, this could have been an option. But, since I was hoping it was only a blown head gasket and might be $1500, I decided to go ahead and have him take off the top end and hope for the best. Which of course didn't happen. So I mean, what am I suppsoed to do now, say, " I changed my mind, I'm gonna look for an engine replacement etc.." when I would still have to pay for the water pump +install as well as the cost of him just taking off the top end. So that would still cost me probably close to $1000 to get a car back with a new water pump and and engine in parts...lol

[F1GT]

Damn, that is $$Cha-Ching$$ Why don't you call up a few dealers and speak with a service advisor concerning the price. That way you can see the difference.

[Magnus]

you got cleaned.

i bet you just had a leaky water pump (it DOES happen often on 3.8's).. and he diagnosed it as blown head gasket.

I would definatelY NOT pay.. if they refuse to give you the car back, have them put it back the way it was and call an attorney. Have a junk yard motor put in for much less.

Or.. just use your old engine, cause it was probably fine.

no way in hell I would pay that much.

[94PontV6]

Good Lord Man..

$2200 almost.. Forget that crap.. I would have bought an LS1 and done an engine swap for $800 more bucks..

But I do all of my own work. I learned one thing when I first started to get into F-Bodies.. and that was learn to do your own work.

I've done a H/C swap on my Z, and to be totally honest. That is not even $500 worth of work..

But as long as your car is running and you're happy. Then it's all good..

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

2200 + 600 = turbo kit then show him a "blowen head" lol

[camaroincal]

Ok, so lets say I tell the guy screw you...take it somewhere else and get about the same or higher estimate? And what if they all tell me the same thing...cracked head etc. There really is nothing I can do. I highly doubt he is lying to me about this.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

i know you trust the guy but i would want my old head back if he asks why tell him you want it to p/p fo fun i don't know but he should not have a problem givving it back

[camaroincal]

Originally posted by F1GT:
Damn, that is $$Cha-Ching$$ Why don't you call up a few dealers and speak with a service advisor concerning the price. That way you can see the difference.

Well the thing is they wouldn't know exacly how much they would charge until they saw it for themselves. It's not just a replacement of 1 head gasket. It's replacing both headgaskets, buying another head cus one is cracked, and machining the heads.

Come to think of it we did call our local Chevy dealer about replacing the water pump. They wanted $300 for just the labor, whereas my mechanic charged like $160 for the water pump and installation. California sucks if your aren't ritch...

[camaroincal]

Originally posted by Magnus:
you got cleaned.

i bet you just had a leaky water pump (it DOES happen often on 3.8's).. and he diagnosed it as blown head gasket.

I would definatelY NOT pay.. if they refuse to give you the car back, have them put it back the way it was and call an attorney. Have a junk yard motor put in for much less.

Well I just think we caught the thing right at the moment it happened. A week earlier I started smelling coolant when I turned the AC on. And finally when we changed the oil, coolant was really dripping from the water pump, which can be a sign that you have a problem with the heads/gaskets.

I really don't wanna get involved with hashing it out with my mechanic or court etc. I don't have the time or money for that crap.

Or.. just use your old engine, cause it was probably fine.

no way in hell I would pay that much.

Well I think this is gonna make me learn how to work on this engine before I have another problem. Seriously I don't know hardly anything about assembling or disassembling an engine.

[camaroincal]

Originally posted by viper04af:
2200 + 600 = turbo kit then show him a "blowen head" lol

Well, I live in Cali the land of ****ty smog laws. And I'm pretty sure it would be almost impossible for me to pass smog with a turbo here. I really wish I knew though...

[camaroincal]

Originally posted by viper04af:
i know you trust the guy but i would want my old head back if he asks why tell him you want it to p/p fo fun i don't know but he should not have a problem givving it back

I hope he saved it to show me, but right now I really don't even care as long as the car is fixed.