ls1290

iTrader: (20)

About how long would it take for a reasonable good shop to install new head gaskets? 5 hours?

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

3-4 hrs at a normal pace, 1 hr to remove intake, unbolt headers, remove power steering reservoir, and to organize everything..

30min- 1hr to remove valve covers, rockers, pushrods and head bolts.

30min to 1hr cleaning block and head surfaces..

1hr to assemble everything..

Of course most shops won't work 4 hrs straight and will likely split it up over 2 days..

It should be $400-600 labor at a typical shop...

LilJayV10

iTrader: (39)

Alldata time to do both heads is about 18 hours. I think that's a little much but 4 hours is a pipe dream too.

Warranty time is 10.4

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

18hrs? What are they doing it blindfolded? I just swapped both head gaskets, installed PR's and rockers and valve covers and intake manifold..

Started at 9pm and ended at almost 1am...

I'm not used to "all data" times for shops but 18hrs is lazy, but I know they split the duty between different workers and work at a "shop" pace with a radio playing..

ls1290

iTrader: (20)

Warranty time I assume is for someone that needs to consult the manual step my step to do the job right? Not exactly someone that is use to doing it and knows what needs to be done.

LilJayV10

iTrader: (39)

Actually it's the opposite. Warranty time is what the dealer pays a tech to a repair while a vehicle is still under factory warranty. That's why warranty time is always less. Typically warranty time is about 40% less that regular time.

Doing warranty work sucks for the most part. You get paid less for doing the same work if it was a cash job. That's just part of it though.

I know people slam dealerships and after hearing some stories from people on here I can understand why. I'm very fortunate that I work for a really good dealership with really good techs.

cmbtengnr

Speak it brother ... piece rate is suck work.

When I worked for Volvo they loved to pay warranty time for the job ONLY, so all the stuff you did to get to the part you were replacing was no pay.

As far as 4 hour head gasket job .. well let see I am betting that you skipped the surface micrometer check of both sets of surfaces. Probably didn't make anything more than a cursory inspection for obvious cracks and probably aren't counting the time you spent AFTER the actual work filling and preasure testing. If you did all the inspections and completed all prep and after work in 4 hours then you really should consider working piece rate.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

No I didn't need to, block and heads are freshly decked...

But... Now that you add all that extra stuff in then the time adds up..

Sadly most shops would never do all that testing, only the good ones.. And you'll pay for it..

Dealerships and shops are worlds apart!

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

It's not extra stuff. It's called doing head gaskets.

I can rebuild an engine in about 6 hours without waiting on parts, or the machine shop...

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Hey, pass some of that stuff my way, it must be good.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

In my case it's "extra" since I was working on a new engine and was just swapping out head gaskets because the Wrong ones were used..

ls1290

iTrader: (20)

So the bottom line here is that about 10 to 15 hours seems reasonable right?

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

It's just coke zero lol, no "stuff"

But seriously 18 hrs, I could roll the k member with engine out of the car. Do a head/cam swap, take a long nap, then install it all back in.

Those all data times are outta hand

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

First off why are you changing them, if you have a blown HG that's one thing. Swapping out to let's say a .040 cometic is another thing.

If you calculate in what dealerships do (pressure test etc) and to check to see if other damage was done then yes that time adds up.

In my case nothing was wrong with my current head gaskets, so I swapped them out for a different set quickly. Didn't "test" anything, as most do on here when swapping head gaskets..

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

The dealer does not factor testing in to flat rate times. That's diagnostics. Which is charges separately. You've never worked at a dealer have you?

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

No, but most shops don't do diagnostics after changing head gaskets.

My point is those times are exaggerated.

Plus nobody in their right mind should take a car to a dealership to get any work done. Too expensive.

OP find a local member to help you in the regional section or a local speed shop, if you were closer I would help you.

RockinWs6

Yeah for some reason the shop times on these cars are way overtime. I was quoted 24 hrs to swap the complete engine. I could swap my engine and my neighbors in 24 hrs!.

Reasonable shop time for head gaskets would be 6 hrs 8 max IMO.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

When I wanted to do a cam swap back in 05 right when I joined here I called a few shops and one shop quoted me 20 hrs labor.. Lol I was contemplating letting them do it too at the time.

I'm glad I didn't

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

They also don't do diagnostics while on the clock for head gaskets.

The point I'm making, and several other people, is 3-4 hours to do head gaskets is nonsense. It can take an hour just to lash all 16 rockers. And that's only a piece of the puzzle.

RockinWs6

If it takes you an hr to install the rockers you shouldn't be doing this kind of work for money. 15 mins maybe 20 at the most and that's if I'm smoking crack.