How much should I expect to pay, labor and parts, for putting a new head gasket on a 90 ls motor? A mechanic friend of the family only charges me 20 bux an hour for labor, so figure that in.

 

I would say closer to 500 since they have to pull the head off. Depends if you goto the stealership or local joe's garage too.

 

It's gonna cost you about $140 in oem parts to change a HG.
Figure 6 hour labour = $120
To disassemble head is about $100
Valve seals at $4 a piece = $60
Resurfacing = $80

I would plan to spend about $500 dollars, in addition to any other maintenance you want done if you plan to have it done correctly. You probably could do it alot cheaper by skimping around, but reliability would be questionable.


Modified by Mac8008 at 12:20 AM 5/25/2003

 

Do you have to resurface the block every time?

I can pull a head in 45 minutes and change all the related seals in about 1-2 hours.

I gotta help change one in my friend's block, which runs a 11.8:1 CR. If I have to resurface the block or head. The piston to deck height will be off and might have clearence issues. Unless the difference is within the .0001 of a inch.