BHG replacement, need pointers!

[IHateHacks]

To me it sounds like either the heater union sealing washers, the heater union to water by pass hose or the heater union to heater control valve hose is leaking. All of which, I hate to say, are only replaceable with the cylinder head off of the block. You could quite possibly get the clamp off of the heater union to heater control valve hose off (that long hose at the back top of the head that attaches to the valve on the firewall.) if you know someone with, what we in the automotive industry call, "Jap Hands". That other 90 degree hose (the heater union to water bypass pipe hose) is not replaceable with the head attached to the block.

"what are good things that are fairly inexpensive that would be good to check/replace while the head is apart"

Every hose, gasket and sealing washer that you can't get to unless the intake manifold or head is off.

And if this mechanic is truly "certified" he will know enough to have the head sent to a machine shop to be checked for warpage and cracks.

[brandonsupra]

Thanks man. Yeah he's going to be sending it off to get planed and everything good like that. Gonna check the pistons and cam shafts while we're down there as well. I'll just tell him my budget and ask him to replace everything you just said if he can. I know he's replacing every gasket, but I'll get him to do the rest too...even though he probably knows everything I wrote down to mention to him anyways.

Sorry I made it sound like my friend was going to be doing the work, which initially I thought he was...since I figured otherwise I'd be paying huge cash. Today I called my moms friend who works down at a local lube shop and asked if he knew anyone who could do a head gasket job for cheap. His co-worker said he would do it on his spare for at warehouse costs, and next to no labor costs. He's actually certified too, he's not my backyard mechanic friend just to clarify that.