REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

bikerman · 02-05-2010, 10:32 AM

My girlfriend has a 95 civic auto with a d15 with auto tranny. Apparently the head gasket has gone on it and she is being quoted 1200 to fix it. Seems like a lot anyways whats a reasonable price ?
Also the car has 215 kms would an engine swap be more cost effictive.

Any advice and prices are helpful
if any sponsors wanna pm me a quote that is fine too.

thanks
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godwin · 02-05-2010, 11:02 AM

1200 - 100 for parts /1.15 for taxes / 110 for shop rate.. that's about 8 hours ie a day's worth of work.. which is reasonable, if you take it to a shop with a written warranty.

Alternatively BCIT's Honda tech instructor moonlights as a mechanic on the side, use the search and find him.

For car that age, it is easy to DIY. Provided the oil doesn't get into the coolant and clog up the cooling loop.

thumper · 02-05-2010, 11:33 AM

any chance of the head being warped? should there be other stuff that would need to be done at the same time (eg. timing belt)?

sonick · 02-05-2010, 11:34 AM

Head gasket is a major fix, $1200 sounds about right.

bikerman · 02-05-2010, 11:58 AM

Hmmmmok and is it worth it to get an engine swap instead or stick with headgasket i guess.

I dint know if the head is warped she took it in to a family friend mechanic so hes probably taking a pretty good profit if hes doing it and charging shop rate. How important is a written warranty in a case like this ?

Edit: after some further googleing this seems pretty high. Especially considering its being done at his home.

Mugen EvOlutioN · 02-05-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonick

Head gasket is a major fix, $1200 sounds about right.

yup

it aint like the valve gasket..

thats wat happens with older cars

thumper · 02-05-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerman

Hmmmmok and is it worth it to get an engine swap instead or stick with headgasket i guess.

i don't know if this is a cost-effective route. labor to swap out an engine isn't cheap either, and you're running the risk of taking a chance that a junkyard engine with uncertain mileage may not have other problems later on.

maybe you should be asking here on RS for a good indie mechanic to get secondary quotes.

kroy546 · 02-06-2010, 11:55 PM

well...it adds up when u have to inspect the head and further machine if it is warped or scratched

lexluthor09 · 02-07-2010, 12:03 AM

If he's doing it at home and charging you shop rate he's making a killing on that.

On a D15? It can be done in 5 hours or less. The only downtime is sending the head to be machined.

Comes to a point where you need to decide if you want to bring it to someone you trust and get charged 1200 bucks or start looking around at others, or even selling it. Swapping an engine would end up costing more than a head job.

fliptuner · 02-07-2010, 12:10 AM

215K on an 18yo car with an aluminum head and a steel block. Chances are the car overheated to boot, I'd say the head isn't true and parts of the old gasket are impregenated onto the head.

If you want everything done right and are goinng to keep the car:

machine work/pressure test
HG kit
water pump
timing belt
acc. belt(s)
coolant
oil/filter
labour

Do you know why the HG blew in the first place? How's the rad?

Either sell the car for what it's worth or get it fixed and keep it for a while.

spoon.ek9 · 02-07-2010, 10:26 AM

d15's sell for $150 on VCC (or are free sometimes lol) from reputable sellers. average price to swap an engine is about $800 i believe (at a professional shop). backyard mechanics would be cheaper.

GLOW · 02-07-2010, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonick

Head gasket is a major fix, $1200 sounds about right.

off topic but your avatar made my day