Does anyone know dealership price for changing both head gaskets on 5.4L with 81000 miles.

 

Look at about $2.5k to $3.5k

A smaller mechanic shop may charge you less, but it'll still set you back a tad. But with the 5.4, It'll cost you closer to 3500.

 

3500 bucks for head gaskets???

I will fly there and change them for you for that price.

I did a 4.6 in a mustang about 2 years ago for a customer.
Parts and labour I charged him was out the door for $800.

I doubt a 5.4 is much more, if any more.

 

Better yet buy a manual, and a torque wrench for $120 and do them yourself.
And you then own the manual and a shiny new torque wrench for doing other jobs to.

 

I've heard from many that you don't want to use the supplied bolts, rather you want the ARP head studs.

If you're doing it youself, make sure that you get the head(s) machined incase there's any warpage. The most minute warp can cause failure, and result in another costly head gasket replacement.

Saleenguy, call your local dealership and find out how much it costs. It's outrageous, but you always have the option of taking it elsewhere. Obviously smaller shops (non-dealer affiliated garages) will charge less, but it'll still be into the thousands.

ctspruill, Let us know what you're quoted at. Its amazing how much these standard services cost from state to state, county to county, dealers to dealers. Labor rates up here are at about 90/hr, and i think it's recently gone up.

 

The reason for such a high price is that the motor has to come out or the cab of the truck has to be removed in order to do a proper head gasket job on the 97 to 03 F-150!
You didn't say what year you have,,but the newer ones are most likely the same deal.
Nothing like working on a Mustang!

 

Pulling a motor out is not evn a job nearly that big.

I am stunned what some shops charge.

I am so glad i do my own work, I would starve to death if I had to pay a shop that sort of outrageous pricing for simple jobs.

Between this thread, and a recent one I read here on FTE about what some people paid to have just new balljoints installed, its insane.

A customer of mine whos street bike I work on for him, recently asked me about doing the timing belt on his wifes honda civic.

I called and priced a belt, and a water pump, and then figured in my time to do the job and called him back with a price.

He asked me why I could do it for 1/4 of the price the dealer wanted.....My reply was simple.
I only charge real time, and do not gouge on everything.

I worked on her car, and she was shocked to see the bill I gave her was actually for about $20 less than her quote, I said it took me a little less time than I thought, and if I have a doubt I always quote a little high.

She still handed me an extra 20 and said it was my TIP.

Changing a water pump and timing belt on a civic is extremely easy by the way.

And even if a motor has to be lowered , or slid ahead or heck, even fully removed from a truck to do a headgasket replacement, its a simple job.
Unplug some wires, undo some bolts, pull a rad, and cooler, maybe pop out a battery and a few things and then lift it out with the chain hoist.

Replacing it is just as simple, put it back in and do up the stuff you undid, refill with new coolant, and give it an oil change and your done.
Its far from a 3,500 dollar job.
Heck i really need to up my shop rates to $400 per hour like these other places.

 

Just called and got a quote from our local Ford dealer.
I asked for a price of replacing both sides head gskets, and was unsure of your trucks year, so said for a 2003.

I was told if they do not need machine it will be $1,890 and if they need maching it could be $300 more.

I nearly passed out then he told me it was that much.

Anyways I hope you find a good shop to do it for you, or consider doing them yourself.

 

So I decided to bite and check how much at a few dealers here.

Future Ford Sacramento Roughly 2200+ parts if the heads are good. If not, another 3-400 to machine the head. If that still doesn't work, 13-1400 dollars for new heads.

Hollywood Ford (Los Angeles) was 2200 to 2400 dollars for just labor. Gaskets at $30 each, and 450-550 to machine each head. And like above, if it's too warped, it'll cost you about 1400 for new heads.

So approximately 2400 for the labor. 60 For parts. 1100 for machining both heads.

It comes out to 3560, assuming that the heads can be machined.

My prices of 2.5K to 3.5K Plus or minus a few is still correct.

Also, I check his profile, one of his search said '02 F-150 so i told them the same.

 

Wow, I guess i am sad that your correct, simply because the customer is getting screwed at those prices.

I sure hope he can find some cheaper way to fix his truck, thats a lot of money for just 2 new head gaskets.

I seriously think that I need to stop working on so many power sports vehicles, and start doing more automotive.
Apparently I would make a lot more.

 

I'm from NC. The truck is a 2002 f150 FX4. It has bbk headers,superchips power programmer and K & N air filter system. I have most of the tools for job. No engine tools for gas burners or shop to do work in. Which is the reason for the ?

 

Have you guys ever done headgaskets on a 4.6 or 5.4 It's a lot of friggin work. 2 timing chains blah blah in a truck bent over the fender standing on a crate....Special tools to buy to hold the cams in place rusted friggin exhaust manifold bolts , egr tubes that are rusted and break .etc.........1500.00 minimum I would charge as a side job

 

And no you don't have to pull the motor

 

1500 I can even understand, the 3500 and up was scary.

 

Does anyone know of an online retailer where I can purchase the parts to put headgaskets on my truck? I just discovered that I had coolant in the oil myself today. Or are they all ford patrs?