Should I get a rebuilt motor?

[Mitch Roberts]

Well, my son's 97 Explorer has a blown head gasket at 96K miles. It is in otherwise excellent shape. It's starting to look like close to $1800 IF the heads aren't blown, plus another 500 if they need replacing. It looks like close to $3000 to get a new motor, incl. labor, but then I've got a 3 year/75K warranty. I'm leaning toward a new motor, but do those prices sound right? I'm in Fairfield County CT, where prices tend to be high because everybody here is supposed to be loaded - ha! Oh, it's the basic V6 with aluminum heads.

 

[lonestar]

Thought about getting a Hayne's manual and trying it yourself. I may be doing the same job shortly.

Heads $160 ea
Head Gasket Set $150

and a weekend of time.