Teddydog
Member
- Joined
- April 14, 2008
- Messages
- 29
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Dupont, WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 92 Explorer XLT
My sister-in-law has been driving my old Explorer while she's in town. Yesterday the truck crapped out on her on the freeway and I had it towed to a shop to check it out. The diagnosis is a blown head gasket and the estimate is $1550. (assuming that the heads are not cracked or warped).
The Explorer is a 92 and has 170,000 miles. My dad bought it new and I have had it since he passed away 4 years ago. I have spent quite a bit of money on it since getting it, including have to replace the rear ABS brake valve, some front-end and alignment work, starter and battery and just two weeks ago brand new tires!
The questions:
1) Is the above quote "reasonable"? I do live in an area of fairly high labor rates ($90 or so an hour is typical). The quote includes the labor for R&R, machine shop work on the heads, plugs, wires, t-stat, upper and lower radiator hose and all gaskets and shop materials.
2) Is it worth doing on this old Explorer? That's the tough one for me. It is a 3rd vehicle for us and really doesn't get driven much, but I have been keeping if for severe winter weather (I drive a Camaro as a DD), hauling dirty stuff, out to the woods, etc. I hate to spend another $1500 on a truck that's worth about $1000 the day BEFORE it broke.
3) Do it myself? I'd have to have it towed back home, get it up the driveway into the garage and likely spend a couple of weekend on it. I've never done engine work before, but I'm versed in other types of auto repair such as brakes, suspension work, done a radiator replacement in a Corvette, splugs/wires, etc. I assume this job would require setting/adjusting valve and lifter clearance or something like it and I've certainly never done anything like that before.
4) If I have the work done, is there anything else I should have done at the same time? I'm thinking water pump, but I guess that's not really in the same repair stream as the head gasket job. Or should I opt for new heads instead of the machining, check, cleanup? Whole engine rebuild?
I CAN afford the work, I just don't know if it is a wise expenditure. Or use of my time to learn to do it myself.
Thank for any thoughts or input.
Rob
The Explorer is a 92 and has 170,000 miles. My dad bought it new and I have had it since he passed away 4 years ago. I have spent quite a bit of money on it since getting it, including have to replace the rear ABS brake valve, some front-end and alignment work, starter and battery and just two weeks ago brand new tires!
The questions:
1) Is the above quote "reasonable"? I do live in an area of fairly high labor rates ($90 or so an hour is typical). The quote includes the labor for R&R, machine shop work on the heads, plugs, wires, t-stat, upper and lower radiator hose and all gaskets and shop materials.
2) Is it worth doing on this old Explorer? That's the tough one for me. It is a 3rd vehicle for us and really doesn't get driven much, but I have been keeping if for severe winter weather (I drive a Camaro as a DD), hauling dirty stuff, out to the woods, etc. I hate to spend another $1500 on a truck that's worth about $1000 the day BEFORE it broke.
3) Do it myself? I'd have to have it towed back home, get it up the driveway into the garage and likely spend a couple of weekend on it. I've never done engine work before, but I'm versed in other types of auto repair such as brakes, suspension work, done a radiator replacement in a Corvette, splugs/wires, etc. I assume this job would require setting/adjusting valve and lifter clearance or something like it and I've certainly never done anything like that before.
4) If I have the work done, is there anything else I should have done at the same time? I'm thinking water pump, but I guess that's not really in the same repair stream as the head gasket job. Or should I opt for new heads instead of the machining, check, cleanup? Whole engine rebuild?
I CAN afford the work, I just don't know if it is a wise expenditure. Or use of my time to learn to do it myself.
Thank for any thoughts or input.
Rob
