I have 95 Honda Del Sol Si with a Blown Headgasket. The engine is a D16z6 vtec. I got a quote on the cost to fix it, at it was roughly $800 I was wondering if that sounds right, and if it is actually worth fixing, or would the better option to be just get a new engine? I'm not looking for an engine to give the car a lot of power, just need it to run. I know little about cars, so the help is extremely appreciated. Thanks ladies and gents!

 

Do it yourself with basic hand tools, torque wrench and time. Look in the FAQ sticky for a link to a DIY.

 

What's being included in that $800?

With that said $800 is high for a HG replacement.

 

That is extremely expensive. Its a most of the day job, but with a fraction, you can buy your own tools and learn yourself. Its not as hard as it seems, actually quite easy, do some research. I only charged my neighbor 150 to change his on a Y7 you can even do a full rebuild for the price of that. AND THEN get lunch. Haha

 

800 is very high for a headgasket.

 

That's pretty high ! research and you can do it in a fiew hours(took me 2 but im new). D series are pretty easy to work on.

 

I don't think $800 is that bad of price depending on what is included and where you live.
Alladata quotes 4.6 hours to do a headgasket on your car. In the Bayarea all the good shops (not some ebay/flyby night lowest price craiglist shop) charge at least $100 phr. That is $500 just in labor. Headgasket $50 to $80. If it is a good shop they are going to take it to a machine shop that will charge him $200 to $400. The machine shop I use have a three or more day turn around time. Now they have to deal with a dead car in their shop. Not a big deal if you live some where cheap and the auto shops are large but around here we can not afford 10 extra parking spots, 5 extra lifts not producing money, etc...


Of course if you going to do a headgasket you should do all your drive belts/timing belt/water pump, etc...

 

Just an example of my buddy's HG replacement.

3.5 hours at $80, per hour. $280
OEM HG $40
OEM water pump, Timing belt, plus other 3 belts. $120

$440 total (before taxes) He also changed the spark plugs, oil, and of course the coolant but they didn't bill for it. Everything was supplied. Figure another $40 for that?

 

$399 at the shop I go to.

 

I'm doing my own next week. I'll spend $300 total to do it myself

The an entire top end gasket kit, new hardware, resurfacing, 2 cases of beer, new fluids and pizza