How Much Is It to replace a Headgasket?

[ECLIPSE95]

I used the search and I havent really found out a price on what it would cost to get the head gasket removed...I am buying a car soon and it smokes pretty bad they guy said it is from the head gasket is this true..would it really smoke that bad..he says it runs just fine but smokes..so how much would a head gasket replacement cost? and should I get the timing belt replaced as well at the same time? thankz for your input..~Dustin
oh by the way its a 1990 Eagle Talon TSI AWD

 

[Bostedquest]

smoke does not mean HG.
White smoke.. worry. That is coolant.
Blue/grey oil. Valve stem seals. Easy fix.

As far as cost...
100+S&H for a MLS (Multi layer steel) HG
70ish for ARP head studs (gonna need to replace the stockers anyway and they cost about the same)
And what ever gaskets you fubar pulling the head.
And sine taking off the head, replace water pump (40ish)
auto tensioner (60ish)
timing belt (depends)
that way when it goes back togeather you do not have to worry about the componets failing (hopefully)

 

[ECLIPSE95]

is more like white smoke..so thats probably coolent so that means headgasket needs to be changed out?

 

[xhaust50]

Yes but you have to be careful. Have you driven this car before? If the owner has been driving it with a blown head gasket he may have overheated the car before and the cylinder head could be warped. That would not be a car you would want to buy unless it was dirt cheap and you really knew what you were doing.

 

[johnk]

What are your intentions for the car? Daily driver? Street/Strip? All Strip?

I would check the car's coolant and oil to see if they are mixing(brown muck). And buy a compression gauge and check the compression. If 2 adjacent cylinders are low or the coolant and oil are mixed its pretty good sign that the head gasket is blown. Stock pressure is 165 for 1g DSMs.

If your not making a high boost motor with a lot of horses you can forget the ARPs and Metal HG. ARPs would be a waste since 1G bolts are not stretch to torque type and normally can be reused. Metal headgaskets are harder to get to seal also and wouldn't benefit you unless your running more than 20 PSI. Plenty of people have run 20 PSI on a stock type HG.

Yes you should definitly do the timing belt on the car since you have no idea how long this guy has been running it. Replace the tensioner and either of the 2 pulleys if they dont turn smoothly. While you have the timing belt of replace the balance shaft belt too or do the eliminator kit. Also have the head surface checked and refinished if need be by a machince shop.

Good Luck whether you buy it or decide if it's a lemon.

 

[Bostedquest]

is more like white smoke..so thats probably coolent so that means headgasket needs to be changed out?

you need to decide a few things.
how many miles does it have?
Over 80K I would suggest a rebuild.
Just easier, and can take care of anything that might pop up by just doing the HG.
You know the car is messed up, are you willing to sink money into it to find and fix its problems.
Trust me me there will be many, and cost a lot.

 

[ECLIPSE95]

well it hasnt been driven it just sits in his driveway...and he starts it up once in a while..it holds boost well and idles fine..the tranny is in excellent shape..but this is all from what I know..but other than that..I was going to have a new HG put on along with a timing belt kit..thinking about going with that really expensive kevlar kit

 

[Rex2342]

I'm at about $350 so far with my blown head gasket and haven't paid the shop for the clean up work and valve seals yet. Heres everything I bought so far:

Top end gasket kit fom Autozone. It included a HG but I'm not using using it
Timing belt
Balance shaft belt
Water pump
Mitsu HG
ARP head studs
Timing betly tensioner pulley
Hydrolic tensioner My buddy just bought one and isn't using it so I got it from him for free
Knock Sensor Mine needed replaced so I figured I might as well do it now while the ehad is off and I can get to it easy

Then whatever the shop charges me for thier work.