is this a good price for HeadGasket work?

[Cavaturbo]

i called my local shop today and i ask him how much he charge to change my 96 escort lx .

after 30min he calls me back and said
this is all in Canadian dollars
labour 390 dollars
parts 172 dollars <include headgasket, intake and exhaust>
they also will take my head to a machine shop to do some stuffs to it and it cause another 100 dollars


total is 670 before tax.


Is this a decent price? If this is a decent price, i might just let them fix it instead of risking it myself.

Thanks you all for the advises.

[Arnoldtheskier]

Make sure it is the head gasket first.It could be the head cracked or the block.I have posted in detail about this not long ago.
IF it is JUST the gasket..get a few other quotes..that incude JUST the gasket AND an exchange head.Canadian Tire,Master Mechanic.IF you are quoted on the gasket alone.. THEN they get it apart and it needs(0r they SAY a WHOLE lot of other work) you pay for them to do this whether or not you want them to finish the job.
This "taking the head to the machine shop for $100"..for what? Crack check..ya..I guess...Valve/seat work? on Escorts is bogus.What? Grind the valve seats on a head that uses powdered metal in the first place?Grind them to what? Forget that idea.YES! that kind of work is done! Proper valve work on these heads is to REPLACE the valve seats (AND of course)check the head for cracks before they start work as well as check the cam etc.Going rate for a REPUTABLE head is about $300 Cdn., for an exchange head/used head about $100/take the head off yourself LOTS! available..about $40/$50..OR the work done on yours.Pretty much anything less.. is SUSPECT. Plus about $200 for the gaskets with new bolts.
You don't do all this work and put the old timing belt and water pump back in.Add another $50 for the belt/$60 for a rebuilt or $80 for a new pump.
"Head gasket" jobs REAL QUICK!! turn into "valve jobs"..be careful.

[mustang302]

I wouldn't nay say the head visiting a machine shop, there is a reason that the head gasket is leaking, and the reason might be due to a warped head that got way too hot and now doesn't sit square. A machine shop will check it out and can mill it if necessary, and is good practice to ensure that the new gasket doesn't leak too. A lot of times if the gasket just loses a chunk, the loss of coolant will cause an overheat, which will cause the head to warp, which in turn makes the head gasket leak even worse. The $100 canadian that was quoted, if it is to get the head milled, is a good deal.

Overall the price for the whole job sounds pretty reasonable if you're not sure you're up to it or don't have the time, etc. I do agree that you should be absolutely certain that it is a head gasket problem before you let them tear the head off.

[Cavaturbo]

Originally Posted by mustang302

I wouldn't nay say the head visiting a machine shop, there is a reason that the head gasket is leaking, and the reason might be due to a warped head that got way too hot and now doesn't sit square. A machine shop will check it out and can mill it if necessary, and is good practice to ensure that the new gasket doesn't leak too. A lot of times if the gasket just loses a chunk, the loss of coolant will cause an overheat, which will cause the head to warp, which in turn makes the head gasket leak even worse. The $100 canadian that was quoted, if it is to get the head milled, is a good deal.

Overall the price for the whole job sounds pretty reasonable if you're not sure you're up to it or don't have the time, etc. I do agree that you should be absolutely certain that it is a head gasket problem before you let them tear the head off.

Thanks right now im just calling shops to ask for the price one said that they need to take out the HEAD first to see what is wrong with it that he said might take 1hr-1.5 hr and cost about 80-90 dollars. (< if they really have to take the head out, doesnt that mean i have to BUY the gasket because you cant reuse the gasket right?)

Another shop say that it might be a CRACKed head which he said is quite common in a 1.9 escort engine. He said that its not to expensive to exchange a engine?? well he will call me back for the estimate.

ANd yeah i decided NOT to tryit my self. i also dont want to take of the head and found out there is someother things wrong with it. (like cracked head!) Because i think Shops Charge you MORE if you worked on your car before the shop did + the towing!