Well, I got a real nice 1993 AWD Aerostar with a new radiator, but there's more damage from the overheating. Even though the dealer said that the problem was only the ra-diator( ), we barely got the van home before the temp gauge pegged again and there was coolant coming out of the overflow.

I let it cool down, added some water, and started it up to idle with the rad-iator cap off. Sure enough, the level in the rad-iator kept rising and overflowed, even after the t-stat opened up. I also noticed a nice trail of water coming out of the ex-haust. Anyone need something steam cleaned?

I knew going in that this was a possibility, but I'm still po'd that it happened. I have neither the time, energy tools or patience to try to fix and repair a head gasket (or a cracked head) by myself. I don't want to ditch the van and start over with another used one, and my wife is really happy with it. So I want to suck it up and take it to a competent non-dealer shop to get it fixed.

And now my questions:

>>Can anyone give me a ballpark estimate for having one headgasket removed and replaced?? (I know, it may be more work than that, but I'd really like to have some clue as to how much this is gonna set me back before I start calling around).

>>Is this something that a competent garage can/will do with the engine in the van, or will they want to pull the engine?

>>Can anyone recommend a good quality shop in the Denver metro area?

>>anything else I should consider, remember, wonder about before pressing on?

Thanks in Advance,

Jeff

 

Well you hope it's just a head gasket, It could be the head itself. I know one shop qouted me $1000.00 to replace it. I just smiled and said right!!! Went and called a snap-on dealer and bought the tools I needed and did it myself, And I still had the tools!

If it's over $500.00 to replace the head Gasket's plus parts "Head
" that is. Thats a fair price. It took me one day to do it with three broken fingers..

 

Do yourself a favor and have both done, makes no sense to do one when you are that far into it. Chances are it's not a cracked head but a warped one, I have seen several warped out of specs(including my own). No biggie on having them shaved. Price for the complete job depends on where you are located. I did mine (at work ) under warrenty and it was around $1800. with all the gaskets, shaving the heads, and a few new parts( belts, hoses, antifreeze, etc...)