[oohsam]

Hi guys,
My mechanic just called me with some bad news.
Need to redo the head, its pretty much cactus.

Was quoted 1400 for a fully reco'd head, dropped in (that's drive in, drive out).

Opinions, thoughts, ideas?

any help appreciated. I wasnt expecting it to cost that much to be honest...didn't actually know there was that much wrong with the fella!


Cheers

[4x4xzook]

get a second opinion mate!

have u tried searching other engine swaps? might be a good time to upgrade?

if it were upto me id rebuild. personally love the 1.3 it takes a beating!!

[oohsam]

THanks man.
I wouldnt go from a 1.6 to a 1.3! lol
Its a Vit with a 16valve 1.6 EFI in it....I just dont have the time to cock around unfortunately, or i'd do it myself! I do everything myself so I have no idea if this is a fair price, or im getting shanked.

[4x4xzook]

ahh didnt read ur vehicle specs lol... well in that case hold tight im sure someone will answer u soon.

goodluk

[douglasgiersch]

Send all head services's a email/ring just google em I brought some reco swap heads for a pajero 12 months back they are good to deal with and where cheapest around I should find. Most places wanted to charge extra 50-80 bucks to assemble the value components they where cheaper to my door assemble and my absolutely stuffed heads sent back to them then any other place I should find just for a bare head. And I got a box of crownies for free. 1400 drive in drive out isnt to bad If you supplied the heads and bed kit would knock a fair chunk off that you'd be surprised the price some blokes put on parts.

[christover1]

A complete import engine fit may work out cheaper,
and possibly better, if bottom end is old.

[TZAR]

All depends on what he quoted on
Lets break it down
6 hrs labour @ 88 hour = $528
reco head approx $400
VRS kit $150 ( monotorque)
Clean out radiator $150
new oil, filter, coolant $120

Looks like that price would be about right to me, he aint ripping you off he is doing it for a fair price. remember he has to give warranty as well on that, have your car stuck in his workshop for three days whilst it is immoveable, also stopping him from taking on other more profitable jobs, so I really think its fair.

get the parts yourself, have no warranty and save maybe $100. That aint real smart either.

Wait till he till you the head is frucked and you need a new one or the block has a big crack init too.

[douglasgiersch]

With the Heads i got from All Head Services they had a 3 month or 5 or 10 thousand k warranty on them so long as new gasket was used (well durr) and no sealent used on gasket and all air bled from the cooling system. Having said that wouldnt even attempt to advise doing it your self if you havent got fully enclosed shed the right tools and a bit of knowlge to do so. The break down of cost is definatly reasonable for a couple extra 100 bucks the piece of mind be good of having someone else do it, also its a shit of a job to get everything perfectly clean.

[oohsam]

Thanks guys,
I've told the mech to go ahead. I made a few calls, for the price of the head supplied, it was 650. Considering labour and all the other parts required, its a very fair price. Pretty happy.
Cheers

[oohsam]

Oh, I could do it myself, but time is not something I have alot of these days...hence why the need!

[royce]

thats cheap for a head, you dont really reco G16b heads cause they are all rooted, you just replace them and less than $900 for a head and gaskets and labour to fit up and seat the valves is really cheap

[reeceh]

So I'm in the same boat. About to get my head recoed (g16b) if it's not too cracked. But would I be better off spending the $950 on a brand new strengthened head that's fully assembled from suziauto?