Head Gasket Replacment Cost?

[90fox]

damn my girls head gasket just blew and i never changed one on any car before so we are most likley going to have someone do it can anyone give me a rough estimate on how much im lookin to spend if the head is not warped .... also if i need a new one ? thanks

also do you think since ive never done job before i should be able too? will i have to mess with timing and all? thanks

[cot]

yeah, you have to mess with the timing, and it's not a trivial job, but if you get the helm's manual for the car and are patient and careful, i think it's no problem, just some work

you have to remove the timing belt to get the head off, and when you put it back on , it's critical to get the belt back on correctly, or the valves wont be opening at the proper time. it's a good time to change the timing belt and water pump while you're at it

[90fox]

well how about price wise if i have someone else do it for me?

thanks

[V-K]

I just finished up on my first gasket raplacement today. I spent about $200 to do so in parts and such to do mine.
I got the: Headgasket, plugs, wires, valve cover gasket and gromets, 5 quarts oil, oil filter, 1 gal. coolant, intake manifold gasket, exhaust manifold gasket, torque wrench, kitty litter, and a new heater hose (dry rott).

A haynes or Chiltons manual will be your best friend. The exhaust manifold on mine was a bitch to remove, while the intake manifold nearly fell off. There is a bolt hidden way under the intake and exhaust manifold. You must find them to remove the manifolds. Keep track of the wires on your distributer cap and where they go (I didn't, took nearly an hour to find the info on how to put them back) Don't put gouges in the aluminum block/head (ie. do not pry them apart with a screwdriver). You must be VERY patient with cleaning the old gasket off. Get it all off. All of it. Every last bit. Make sure its smooth. Follow chiltons/haynes/manual of choice and you should be fine.

Timing made mine a nightmare. Mostly because I'm a *stupid n00b*

[91civicDXdude]

if you do it yourself, i would suggest that you get a D16Z6 head gasket (92-95 EX/Si) if anything else simply because its metal and you wont ever have to scrape it off again, and plus it will bump up the compression a tiny bit

[bambam89lx]

Originally Posted by 91civicDXdude

if you do it yourself, i would suggest that you get a D16Z6 head gasket (92-95 EX/Si) if anything else simply because its metal and you wont ever have to scrape it off again, and plus it will bump up the compression a tiny bit

Yes, I definately would use either the Z6 or Y8 metal head gasket. NEVER use the A6 or B2 gaskets cuz they suck.

Parts you NEED:
Head Gasket (Z6 or Y8)
Assembly lube (to apply to the head stud threads when you put them back in)

Parts you Should replace:
Valve cover gasket
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug Grommets
Exhaust manifold gasket (metal one!)

Parts that would be VERY SMART to replace:
Distributor cap and Rotor
Spark plug wires
Oil and Oil Filter
Coolant

Parts that would be good to replace but Costly and Difficult:
Timing Belt
Water Pump

Tools you WILL NEED:
Socket wrench
10 mm socket
14 mm socket (probably a 14 mm DEEP socket as well)
12 mm socket
Torque wrench
Spark plug socket (or just a 16 mm Deep socket for Hondas)
Phillips Screwdriver (if you plan to replace the cap and rotor)


If you are going to have a shop do it, I would suggest that you BUY ALL the parts you will need. DO NOT let the shop or person buy the parts because their prices are way JACKED up. Trust me. It will save you alot of money if you buy the parts and materials and you bring them to the shop.

Also, do NOT let them KNOW or THINK that you don't know what youre talking about or that you don't know anything about cars. They will also jack the price up if they suspect that you don't know anything about cars. Make sure you sound smart and know wut ur talking about before you go talk to a shop!

To replace a head gasket, you are looking at anywhere from $150 dollars to $500 dollars depending on who you have do it for you. It will prolly cost you like $300 dollars if you buy all the parts for the shop.

Good luck. Also, where do you live? If you live in the CT, RI area, I will do it for you for $100 dollars in one day if you buy the parts. Let me know whats up.
** edit- He lives in Cali...Sorry.