wrxcity

my head gasket has blown on my 93 wrx import!, what sort of cost should i be lookin to payout to get this fixed??

cheers Craig....

andy97

iTrader: (1)

Speak to David @ APi

Andy

R19KET

Or alternatively, Alyn at AS Performance, who's a little closer to you,

0191 410 3770

Mark.

funkyspider

I wouldnt change one head gasket. While the engine's out definately do both and replace with competition spec steel ones too, worth the extra. I also replaced the standard stretch studs with competition standard ones, but that's just me being fussy

redwrx

Not much change out of a grand to do the head gaskets,i changed the engine instead ....! worked out cheaper.


Ive got a 93wrx, but managed to source a 94RA engine (via ebay) and get it fitted for less than the estimate for doing the head gaskets.



Frank

Northern Scoob

sorry to here that mate - hope it wont be out of action too long!!!!

you must have been givin it some

Phil

P20SPD

iTrader: (1)

£1000, how come?

Surely it can be done for less than that.

funkyspider

It's an engine out job, quite a lot has to be removed before you can get the heads off so it's mainly labour. Most ppl do cambelts etc at same time (depending on age of em as you might as well whilst they are off) and of course you need to replace all the other gaskets when you rebuild, plus any surprises such as tensioners etc.

P20SPD

iTrader: (1)

I know whats involved. The price mentioned was for head gasket, not all the other changes that may be prudent to do whilst changing the head gaskets.

Just seem a little high for a head gasket repair, or i must be completely off the ball.

Harvez

When mine went as said above it was cheaper to just buy a new engine

I got the engine for 500 quid put it in with help of friends and everything was done and back to normal, deffintly the best way to go

redwrx

The main bearings on mine went .... i was told its £2000 - 2500 to do that job, of which approx £1000 was to do the head gaskets alone...that did inlcude the gasket kit, which im told is around £200+. Something daft like 12 - 14 hours labour was the quote i was given - 5 hours engine out, 5 to put back, and the rest to do the gaskets.


im not an expert, but thats what i was quoted, hence why i replaced the engine .... i got the engine for £600 (off ebay), and the guy fitted it for £200.

Frank

[Davey]

£1000 for a head gasket replacement??? Jeesh!

Cam cover gaskets + head gaskets, cam seals and a new cam belt should come to around £100..

Then your looking at about 5 hours labour for the engine removal and refit

Lets be generous, 2 hours to remove the cam belt, remove the heads, replace the gaskets and put everything back to gether..

Say £35/hour at an indenpendant??

5 * £245 + £100

£345.. + vat = £405.. And thats being generous for time!

Ouch! The FULL head set kit can be had for much less than £100, that includes EVERYTHING! Inlet, exhaust, head, cam cover gaskets, stem seals, crank seals etc. etc.

StickyMicky

craig, you might as well put it in for a full strip down and rebuild if its got a few miles on IMO

far better then just having a gasket done now and it going pop in 6 months time, which will cost more in the long run

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

£700 + VAT at API which comes to £822.50, so not far off. It is , as we all know an engine out job for ease of keeping knuckles attached to hands.

What sometimes doesn't help is that you might find that the clutch is on its last legs when the engine is out - so more expense. Just a cost for the clutch and no labour of course. But it has the potential to push the bill up.

David APi
www.apiengines.com

P20SPD

iTrader: (1)

David, its that near to £1000 its nearly 20% off, and i suspect the £1000 is net of vat. Your an independant company with a good reputation, so i am still right in saying £1000 is OTT IMO.

Granted, labour is a the biggest cost when using a garage etc.

Granted, its easy to say, "whilst its out, you may as well replace the clutch, the cambelt and tensioner, etc" which will increase the cost, but it isnt always necessary.

Buying a second hand engine isnt the answer either, its a non mechanical solution that may or may not work.

R19KET

I guess that's fine, if you want pattern parts, and composite gaskets.

TBH, most of the parts in any of the "gasket kits" get binned, and it's much cheaper to buy just what you need.

Mark.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

I agree totally, we trialled aftermarket ones a number of years back and safe to say we won't have anything to do with them ever again. They were rubbish, the oil seals leaked, the head gaskets wept for week until they eventually sealed.

We even had a rear main seal that was so undersize on the fit diameter that it twisted sideways and all but fell out of the carrier. The leak was huge.

Genuine Subaru every time - no question.

David APi

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

I was trying to be polite saying that 700 +VAT and 1000 were close; you're right they're not - but it is the sentiment intended rather than offending the poor sod who wants to charge a grand.

Oh all right !! a grand is TOOOOOOOOOO much there I've said it.

David APi

redwrx

P20spd, The person who started this thread asked what sort of cost, to have his head gasket done ..??

I have given the facts from my experience, i chose the route that was right for my budget. It was a Subaru dealership that gave me that quote. Im not saying either route is right or wrong........ But the fact is I was quoted £1000....and if you read some of the horror stories on here, people who have had head gasket replacements, have gone on to have other problems.... I chose engine replacement.

David from API, has given his quote .......... which is not a million miles from what i said..... I'd rather be told £1000, than be told £500 and be under budget.


Rather than arguing the toss, why not appreciate that some has taken the time to reply. im not an expert thats why i come here for help. and any help is normally gratefully accepted. I was given the same advice, while the engine is out, change the clutch, especially if its original. It turned out to be good advice as my old one was beyond fc*ked....something i wouldnt of thought about.

And for the record it was the dealership that quoted me over £200 for the gasket kit.


Frank

redwrx

Ive just phoned my local dealership, they have just quoted me £256+vat, for an engine gasket kit.....

R19KET

Frank,

No body is having a go at "you", just what you have been quoted to do a job, which most of us find somewhat on the expensive side.

Subaru engine gasket kits are expensive, especially when you realise that half of it you won't use, and there are often parts that aren't included, that you need to buy separately.

That is why I suggested anyone rebuilding an engine, just buys what they need. There are plently of people to advise them.

I totally agree with David regarding the pattern parts gasket kits. I regularly get sent sample kits, and whilst some parts are very similar, and may well be fine, other parts are suspect.

The last thing people such as David, or I want, is to either have to strip, and replace faulty, sub-standard parts, or have customers complaining that they have problems with parts we have supplied.

I'm not against saving money, we all try to do it, but choose your corner cutting carefully, because all too often, it can be a false economy.


Mark.

[Davey]

Make sure a vicar blesses the head bolts at half torque, then dab each of the heads with the sweat of a sweedish virgin once fully tightened.

redwrx

I have merely given a factual account of my own experience. At the time i did all my research, asked as many questions as i could, and then followed the route i did. i havent said do it the way i did, nor have i said i could do it...... so, if any body feels that what im saying isnt correct, no probs. The fact remains, 'i' was quoted £1000 to have the head gasket done, and that answers the original post question - how much can i expect to pay?. If you can/ or know someone who can do the job for less, then that is whats being asked for - David API, has quoted £822.50 ......

p1mark

I will do it for £820

[Davey]

I'll do it for £600 and I'll even make you some bacon sarnies!

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

This is like fleabay but the bids/quotes keep dropping

p1mark

Take it to API or similiar - far too many clots and bodgers on here after a fast buck

Any critical stuff like gaskets and seals, always use o.e subaru. if you dont you will pay in the long term in some way.

[Davey]

You do realise that alot of OEM stuff is made by the same companies that make the pattern parts?

Obviously there are different pattern part manufacturers, but most OEM parts are made by 3rd parties who will also sell the same parts independantly at a lower price.

p1mark

Yes i do. thank you very much for the info.

could you tell me where i can get Genuine (or identical to) Subaru head gaskets and oil seals from then at anything lower than normal trade?

[Davey]

Speak to your local Subaru dealer and find out what brand the OEM stuff is, a lot of Jap stuff is by Blueprint, then go down to your motorfactor and ask them if they stock it!