Seattle Auto Mechanic Needed

[Lloyd]

Hi all, it's time to go to the well again.

MY 1991 Ford Exploder is at it again. I have 240 k on the truck, and 40 on the re-man engine, and about 12k on the re-man auto-tranny.

It's been running rough on cold start-up for the past month & half, it 's fine as soon as it warms up. I took it in for a tune-up, gave em the symptoms, and asked em to change the oil.

Quote for oil change was 19.95, and tune up was 97.5 plus parts. When I picked it up, they said no tune-up, because their exhaust analyzer said antifreeze in the exhaust, well at least they didn't charge me for a tune up. Guess is I have a leaking head gasket, or worst case a cracked head.

Final bill for the day 176.76 dollars

add anti freeze 1/2 gal                   18.13
Engine analysis                             97.50
Oil Change                                   19.95
Filter                                              5.00
Oil                                               10.00
Haz. materials                                 7.00
Supply Charge                                3.77
tax                                               15.41


Now for the estimate for R&R Head gaskets

Labor                                1,400.00
Plus parts,
Plus machine shop charges.
OR PLUS new heads if they're cracked

Lloyd

[Ronmar]

Ouch, that sounds like a lot for a HG...  I guess that is why i do my own...

[Lloyd]

Ouch, that sounds like a lot for a HG...  I guess that is why i do my own...

that's what I thought...I only paid 750.. for the re-man engine with 7/70,000.00 warranty but that was 7 years ago, then 650 labor, and 400..00 in o/parts.

I live in a commercial build in downtown Seattle no garage.

So hopefully someone here knows a good mechanic in Seattle. If it costs 1400.00 that's what it cost, but I prefer  to get a referral.

The back story is the mechanic that put the re-man engine in put the exhaust manifold gaskets on up-side down, that created a lip, that caused the exhaust to back swirl and caused the heads to over heat and crack, with only 5k mile on the re-man engine. The shop was out of business, so no joy on holding him responsible.

I'm still looking for that receipt, but if memory severs me it was only about 450 in labor for both heads, plus parts that was 6 years ago. Now that shop is gone.

anybody have a recommendation.

Lloyd

[squarebob]

A few years ago my Chevy Astro van had the same symptom. And about the same cost for repair. I took a chance and bought a $12.00 can of "BlockSeal". Followed the directions to the letter. It doesn't like anti freeze in the system when using it IIRC. It sealed the leak and I put another 50,000 miles on it, then sold it. It is worth the $12.00 to see if it will fix your situation.

Bob