Blown Head Gasket Symptoms!

IHateHacks · 02-27-2007, 05:12 PM

My head wasn't warped at all, yet I still had my machine shop plane the head. To have a head cleaned (as clean as the day it was made), checked for cracks, and planed it only costs $150 give or take a few $$. No way in hell it costs $800 to have a head machined, you can buy a rebuilt cylinder head for that much.

If you are using a metal head gasket you must get the head planed. You also MUST lap the block. I used a factory head gasket and I still had the head planed.

I replaced every hose and gasket doing my head gasket, I even bought a new timing belt tensioner which cost $140 by itself, and I'm still well under the $1000 mark. Even with the 20 cans of brake cleaner and 5 rolls of shop rags I'm right around $850 total, machine work and parts.

I understand you will be having a shop do yours, which is not the smartest idea, because no matter what you say to them, they will still torque the head bolts to the factory 58ft/lbs. They are not going to listen to a customer over factory specs. And they will overcharge you, you'd be lucky to drive out of there with a new undertorqued headgasket for $1500.

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02-27-2007, 05:12 PM	#17
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	My head wasn't warped at all, yet I still had my machine shop plane the head. To have a head cleaned (as clean as the day it was made), checked for cracks, and planed it only costs $150 give or take a few $$. No way in hell it costs $800 to have a head machined, you can buy a rebuilt cylinder head for that much. If you are using a metal head gasket you must get the head planed. You also MUST lap the block. I used a factory head gasket and I still had the head planed. I replaced every hose and gasket doing my head gasket, I even bought a new timing belt tensioner which cost $140 by itself, and I'm still well under the $1000 mark. Even with the 20 cans of brake cleaner and 5 rolls of shop rags I'm right around $850 total, machine work and parts. I understand you will be having a shop do yours, which is not the smartest idea, because no matter what you say to them, they will still torque the head bolts to the factory 58ft/lbs. They are not going to listen to a customer over factory specs. And they will overcharge you, you'd be lucky to drive out of there with a new undertorqued headgasket for $1500.