[spazmatt527]

Getting coolant into cylinder #2, time for a new head gasket! Hopefully my block isn't cracked...

Anyway, is $2,000 fair for parts + labor?

 

[SoundEfx]

I've heard of cheaper, $850 and lots more if the block and head is warped.

Unfortunately, you wouldn't know until you take the engine apart.

See what other shops will do and if they would work with you on price if everything is straight.

 

[spazmatt527]

I've heard of cheaper, $850 and lots more if the block and head is warped.

Unfortunately, you wouldn't know until you take the engine apart.

See what other shops will do and if they would work with you on price if everything is straight.

I figured the part about them not fully/truly knowing until they have it all apart so they can take measurements of the mating surfaces and look for cracks.

But, assuming all is well in that regard, if it's just a simple matter of taking the head off, putting a new gasket on, and buttoning it all back up, I feel like over $2,000 is a bit much? But, I do live in SoCal...I'm guessing that probably has an effect on pricing?

 

[SoundEfx]

Maybe some of the SoCal peeps will chime in if they know of a shop that does good work for a little cheaper.
But with that being said, don't expect good work for $600. But I would say expect to pay around $1100 - $1400. West Side Tax....lol

 

[spazmatt527]

Maybe some of the SoCal peeps will chime in if they know of a shop that does good work for a little cheaper.
But with that being said, don't expect good work for $600. But I would say expect to pay around $1100 - $1400. West Side Tax....lol

See, that's what I was expecting to hear when I called around! I was blown away when I heard $2k plus! I feel $1,500 is a reasonably max price for a job like this. Unless, of course, it ends up being more than a head gasket, at which point it'd probably be cheaper to just get a 40k mile JDM motor, yeah?

 

[Sus Spec]

$2k I feel like is on the top end. I wouldn't expect any more than 10hrs labor. Factor in oil, coolant, gaskets, shop supplies, tax, etc.. $1400-1800 I would guess. But, maybe the book time asks for the timing chain cover to be off, even though it can be done without removal.

 

[shanover]

$2k I feel like is on the top end. I wouldn't expect any more than 10hrs labor. Factor in oil, coolant, gaskets, shop supplies, tax, etc.. $1400-1800 I would guess. But, maybe the book time asks for the timing chain cover to be off, even though it can be done without removal.

another example of a $50 part costing out the hind end to be fixed. there is lots of labor time involved tho. I worked for ford dealerships so cant speak to nissan book times, but considering its in socal, that may be ballpark, everything there is expensive as fook

 

[spazmatt527]

$2k I feel like is on the top end. I wouldn't expect any more than 10hrs labor. Factor in oil, coolant, gaskets, shop supplies, tax, etc.. $1400-1800 I would guess. But, maybe the book time asks for the timing chain cover to be off, even though it can be done without removal.

I guess I'll keep looking around for shops, as long as they don't give off a shady vibe. Is there usually room for negotiation on the prices of things like this?

 

[zeno]

Too bad you can't use this engine. It's a B16 Spec V engine, brand new, for $1600.

http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/pts/5739535094.html

QR20 is so cheap, but you will lose power:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ptd/5747552442.html