Hi guys,

I have a Ts 2.6 auto and i have been told by a mechanic the gasket is gone he qutoted $1100 to fix it.

Just wondering if im being ripped off and weather i can get it done cheaper.If so were can i get the parts from and what workshop could do it in the eastern suburbs.If you guys could give me an idea on the total cost that would be great

The car overheats after half an hour of driving.

Thanks
Mark

hhhhmmm thats a bit rich for me.
id rather buy the complete engine gasket kit off ebay for $70 and take an afternoon with the gregories manual and do it my self. all u need is a socket set , manual helps, gaskets, torque wrench , rtv sealant or gasket goo just incase, something to sracp the old gasket off with and some time.
so im sure u could buy the kit off ebay and get another mechanic to fit it.
labour would be 2-4hrs approx , depends if they have worked on a astron II 2.6.
so ur looking at least 400 in labour but 1100 is a bit high i thought.
maybe if he was doing to timing chain at the same time(only labour but).
anyway just my thoughts:D

hhhhmmm thats a bit rich for me.
id rather buy the complete engine gasket kit off ebay for $70 and take an afternoon with the gregories manual and do it my self. all u need is a socket set , manual helps, gaskets, torque wrench , rtv sealant or gasket goo just incase, something to sracp the old gasket off with and some time.
so im sure u could buy the kit off ebay and get another mechanic to fit it.
labour would be 2-4hrs approx , depends if they have worked on a astron II 2.6.
so ur looking at least 400 in labour but 1100 is a bit high i thought.
maybe if he was doing to timing chain at the same time(only labour but).
anyway just my thoughts:D

Thanks dude for ya advise i will do what u suggested it will be heaps cheaper thanks again mark.

yea no prob's. if u can't find the gasket kit pm me and ill post a link for you.
if u still have any questions just ask and u'll get the answers u need in the end.

I'd get a look at the quote. If the car is overheating, the gasket may be gone, or the head may be damaged. That could explain a high quote, the mechanic is quoting you a worst case of a welded and machined head.
You can't compare quotes unless you know what is in teh quote, just as people can't diagnose the exact problem with a keyboard.
I would say $1100 is reasonable if it involves a welded head, machined head, timing chain set. If he is an experienced mechanic, he may have even quoted lifters. Seriously, who wouldn't replace the timing chains on an Astron if the head was coming off?

Regards, Andrew.

I had the rocker cover gasket, half moon seals etc replaced at Repco for $110, does that count?!

quoteI have a Ts 2.6 auto and i have been told by a mechanic the gasket is gone he qutoted $1100 to fix it.
before you do that
check if the radiator is clogged and are the cooling fans working
I have done heaps of heads on the 2.6 . $1100 is paying for his retirement ( thats way too much )
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34111&highlight=head+removal
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?p=560676#post560676
ring a head reconditioning place
just a reface was about $60
a head weld and seats and valves reface is less than $300 (may not be not required)
it takes 1/2 an hour labour to remove the head on a 4 cylinder 1/2 an hour to put back on
allows the mechanic to stuff around add another hour for fun
and a VRS kit you can get from supa cheap less than $100
repco sell fully rebuilt engines for $1200 almost

Hey dude thanks for taking the time out to give me some advise it is much apperciated have a good weekend.
Mark.

ring a head reconditioning place
just a reface was about $60
a head weld and seats and valves reface is less than $300 (may not be not required)
it takes 1/2 an hour labour to remove the head on a 4 cylinder 1/2 an hour to put back on
allows the mechanic to stuff around add another hour for fun
and a VRS kit you can get from supa cheap less than $100
repco sell fully rebuilt engines for $1200 almost


while the above is all true the person has omitted to tell you about pressure testing the head & also checking for cylinder head hardness, these are 2 very important things to consider as they are very common problems with 2.6 astron cylinder heads. the mechanic probably has quoted for a change over cylinder head or even possibly a new cylinder head as core stock is very low for any changeovers if yours is not repairable. check & get a few quotes from 2 or 3 different mechanics b4 you decide to do anything.

It also takes a little longer than 2-4 hours if your not a fully qualified mechanic or something as good as.

Probably take a weekend for a first timer, and I wouldn't do it without help from a mate who has done one before on another car.

The chain, tensioners and cam allignment are all fiddley with the astron donks but still nothing to serious.

If I were you, I would do it for sure, just budget a fair bit of time for it, not an afternoon. Probably need some quality ring end spanners aswell as sockets and a torque wrench. Spanners are just so much better to use most of the time.