blown headgasket 240sx

[mosnismo]

How much am I expected to pay for a work like this from a shop? thanks

[mosnismo]

How many hours labor for a job like this? thanks

[jbracy7]

up too $179.00 in parts to who knows! every shop charges a differnt hourly rate, but u get what u pay for/ if you can do the work your self, you can save a bundle

[jlmphoto]

I actually have a bit of the same question. Should I rebuild the head while it is out? If so, is it better to buy an already rebuilt head or have the shop do it for me? Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread.

[hoffmanestates]

i was thinking about changing the headgasket my self but i came thinking if you are that deep into doing a head gasket why NOT do the timing chain and coresponding components that go along with it. and i asked nissan locally how much for a headgasket and timing chain R&R they quoted me $1130 i said WOW. the timing chain kit is $420 gasket $200 and rest labor. my wrx timing belt,tensioner,idler's water pump ect.. was only 500 at a local speed shop. so this 4 banger is $$$ to keep up.

[jlmphoto]

I haven't quoted it from Nissan yet but $420 sounds like overkill for a timing set. Besides, I can't see why it needs replacing unless it has 250k or more. My Sentra Spec V says it only needs checking at 250k. And $200 for the gasket. I can get one off of a Nico sponser site for half that.

[JKL1031]

and how long? my car just went in for a suspect leak.

[nofatchicks0073]

the diffenece in your prices is you got one quote from a local shop and one quote from nissan
prices are always going to be much much higher at a dealership call around you always need to get more than one quote 1100 dollars is ridiculous just make some calls maybe the shop you took your wrx to they sound pretty reasonable if you were happy with the price and work last time then id go with them

[Fenris]

I paid $900 for a head gasket replacement in '06. 2 blown radiators later, i sued them and found out they just put instant fix gunk in my radiator and clogged the lines to my heater core as well as in the block. Toasted engine. I dont think they even did the head gasket... but i digress.

[Biovizier_Mantrid]

I keep hearing it's best to do it yourself (but you'll need a friend or two), partially because it saves a pretty hefty amount of money in the end, and partially for the learning experience of doing it. I've reviewed a how to video posted some time ago on my engine type, and that's given me some confidence (well, that, the FSM, and autozone's repair guide all for reference). Next weekend or so, I'm going to be changing my head gasket.

Still, not everyone can do it on their own, and that's understandable. It'll cost a pretty penny, though. My local shop quoted $1300 for me...eek.

[moso]

if you take your car to a shop for a head gasket it will vary greatly from shop to shop depending on how much work they believe is associated with the head gasket, some shops (the good ones) will not change a head gasket on a vehicle with an aluminum head without having the head work done (decking, valves, valve stem seals) this will cost considerably more than a shop that just puts in the head gasket and the related seals. so really you get what you pay for.


just a pointer on the ka24de head gasket job. when you get the head off.....
1) dont let the valve stem buckets fall out from under the cams if you take out the cams, they are matched to the cam and valve stems
2) check the block for warping by using a straight edge and feeler gauge, go corner to corner and front to back in all possible combination
3) have your head checked for warping chances are it is if your car overheated when the head gasket blew, if so have it milled
4) consider having your valves done as well as changing the valve stem seals
5) change every gasket possible, when else are you going to have your motor down that far?
hope this helps, have fun.