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Hi all. I'm having head gaskets, oil cooler and egr cooler replaced on my 2004 Excursion PSD at a local dealership all covered by the Ford Diesel Care warranty. Service writer said that they will install ARP head studs if I supply them but he said that they are much more difficult to install and wants to charge me for two hours of labor. Do they really take two more hours to install and torque than the OEM bolts? By the way, I also had the turbo replaced under the warranty about a year ago. The best $1,800.00 I ever spent. Thanks.
theres a few threds on this subject floating around. but none the less the awnser....
it takes some added prep work, added cleaning of threads, added lube on the studs,nuts and washers... etc, etc.
The 2 hour charge is right. Its what I charge to do it as well.
figure 25-30 hours labor depending on the truck and the shop. things like lifts and ranch hand bumbers add to our time and your labor.
then add to that what ever parts you will need. thats hard to estimate fairly befor the heads come off. we can give you an idea but heads are something like $1600 ea.
Yes, parts and labor, but I have no idea if that is accurate or if he was just throwing out a number. He said that the heads were ok and did not need replacing.
figure 25-30 hours labor depending on the truck and the shop. things like lifts and ranch hand bumbers add to our time and your labor.
then add to that what ever parts you will need. thats hard to estimate fairly befor the heads come off. we can give you an idea but heads are something like $1600 ea.
Thanks, I better start saving! At what point are head studs necessary? Is there a way to determine if your gaskets are on the way out?
headstuds are not necessary. they are a bit of added security. They are also not fail or fool proof, as we seem to be better at reinventing the improved fool.
when yu see coolant puking out of the degas bottle and the egr cooler is not blowen.
use the tsb tab at the top of the page and searce for tsb 09-08-03 it contains the diag for this repair as well as egr and oil coolers.
headstuds are not necessary. they are a bit of added security. They are also not fail or fool proof, as we seem to be better at reinventing the improved fool.
when yu see coolant puking out of the degas bottle and the egr cooler is not blowen.
use the tsb tab at the top of the page and searce for tsb 09-08-03 it contains the diag for this repair as well as egr and oil coolers.
Thanks I'll check it out. I think I'll need to get some gauges first thing, not much I can do without them.
I almost get mad/sad when I see 25 hours listed for headstuds when it takes less than half that to actually DO the job. My guy had body off frame and headstuds in by lunch. The job was DONE in 6 +/- hours...and he did it alone.
I had him put in a delete today and he busted it out in a couple hours, AND a 4" turbo-back exhaust! Not exactly and 8 hour job either.
On the other hand I must agree with the old addage: You pay for the experience/education/training that the man in question acquired to DO the job...not just the job itself...I would NEVER be able to do this job myself, just like they couldnt do a motivational speech and get paid that much or more for an hours' work.