Decided to go ahead and get my head gasket replaced... - Honda Prelude Forum

Marfiahitman · 04-06-2009, 05:58 PM

okay, so i have posted two other topics about doing an engine swap with from a H23 to a H22 VTEC..
My friend and i have been trying to find a decently priced H22 but were unsuccessful, so i decided, since its cheaper, go ahead and get the gasket replaced cause i need a way to get around for now.

How much will it cost to get the gasket replaced "the right way"?
My friend said i had to send in the gasket to a machine shop or something to get it done right... or was that the head? ...idk, you tell me.
it will cost under $1000 right?

BBYlude · 04-06-2009, 06:12 PM

I'm guessing 6 hours of labor plus parts, so 6x$80=$480 and a head gasket might cost $75. I forget since its been so long since I've done mine. You should have no problem getting it done for under a grand IMO.

Now if they find the head is warped, that'll put you over budget pretty quickly. Again, it's been a while since I've had to pull the head on my car and think about all this, but I don't think I'm too far off..

Marfiahitman · 04-06-2009, 06:17 PM

hmm, thats not bad at all, my friend says the only part he can't do is the "sending to the machine shop" to see if the gasket or head is warped or w/e.. but he can do everything else, and he doesnt charge that much at all.. he did my CV axcle or w/e for $120 for parts and labor.. so i don't think he'll charge me $80 an hour :P

BBYlude · 04-06-2009, 06:22 PM

he can check the head for warping with a straight-edge and feeler gauges. Very easy to check if you can find a shop manual to check the tolerances.

Marfiahitman · 04-06-2009, 10:13 PM

okay, ill keep that in mind.

he said something about checking, or replacing the "head"
is that what i need in order to fix the "head gasket"

sorry, i dont really know these parts well :P

Rodmunch · 04-06-2009, 11:38 PM

The head, or cylinder head, is what can get warped and may need to be machined in order to make it flat so it sits as flush as possible on the engine block.

The cylinder head gasket is just a gasket that goes in between the cylinder head and engine block, sealing the cylinders, water passages and oil passages that go from the engine block to the cylinder head.

Marfiahitman · 04-07-2009, 11:07 PM

ooooo, so how much may that cost?

G_Loc · 04-07-2009, 11:21 PM

The headgasket itself? ~$20.

Then you gotta add in the cost for new head bolts, seals / gaskets (valve cover, spark plug "doughnuts," intake manifold gasket), and might as well replace the timing belt, balancer belt, and water pump. Maybe $200 - $250 in parts?

EDIT: I realized you were asking about machining the head... that I'm not sure of.

Marfiahitman · 04-08-2009, 11:10 AM

hmm, thats not as bad as i thought..
yeah, the machine is suppose to be expensive, right?
heard it can cost like $400 just for them to look at it. is that true?

i wanted to try and get my car runin as fast as possible, but im just going to get everything i need fixed first, that includes, CV axle or boot (idk which), NGK tune up.. and i need to find out WHY my car over heated in the first place, cause that caused the gasket to blow