I know hardly anyone here gives a damn, but... finally put it in for a diagnostic and repair on Friday. It's fortunate enough the repairer orders parts through my work and myself, so i've been able to keep in contact over the progress of the repair. Here is a list of what will be replaced over the next few days.

- Water Pump & Gasket
- Hydraulic Lifters
- Radiator Bottom Hose, Heater Hoses
- CV Joints & Shafts
- Thermostat Housing*
- Thermostat*
- Manifold, replaced with Advance Headers
- Exhaust Flexible (Mesh) Pipe
- Rear AC Compressor Belt
- Brakes, Inspection of Rotors

Ones marked with an asterisk are being replaced at my request as precautionary maintenance. Total cost of the repair job is being assessed during the repair but the expected maximum charge will be $800. Considering the amount of work done and the performance gain it will receive afterward, considering the performance loss from the old exhaust, i'm pretty confident the cost is well justified.

From here on out it's pretty much cosmetic. Rims, Paint and a Tint seem to be in priority but there's a ton of other minor things i'd love to add as well... all in due time. :cool:

While your doing that why dont you get the stem seals replaced aswell?

The stem seals were replaced about 2 months ago, so they're still fairly new.

The stem seals were replaced about 2 months ago, so they're fairly new.
Ah, very well then!
Another stupid thing then, why not do the top radiator hose too? mightaswell do them all *if* the top one hasnt been replaced already

- Water Pump & Gasket
- Hydraulic Lifters
- Radiator Bottom Hose, Heater Hoses
- CV Joints & Shafts
- Thermostat Housing*
- Thermostat*
- Manifold, replaced with Advance Headers
- Exhaust Flexible (Mesh) Pipe
- Rear AC Compressor Belt


you do realise that you could have done all that work yourself and saved yourself close to half of what you're paying? i mean...im not criticising, but that's just my opinion. I've done all that sort of work on my car myself (lifters cost me $48 and I fitted them myself) most expensive thing there is the manifold...

']Ah, very well then!
Another stupid thing then, why not do the top radiator hose too? mightaswell do them all *if* the top one hasnt been replaced already

I'll probably swap the top hoses over once I get it back this week. At the time it went in we didn't have any Magna 4G54 top hoses in stock.


The $800 pricing is a theoretical maximum provided any other faults are found, it'll probably be closer to $650-$700 otherwise. To order the headers from Advance Headers is about $350, plus $100 for the welding and pipework (some piping needs to be changed as well due to rust), then about $200 for a full set of brand new CV's and shafts.

The lifters, water pump and so on I probably could have done myself, but we just agreed to knock it down all in one hit. I'm not being charged the labour to install the lifters, pump and so on anyway, only for the parts.

I'll probably swap the top hoses over once I get it back this week. At the time it went in we didn't have any Magna 4G54 top hoses in stock.


The $800 pricing is a theoretical maximum provided any other faults are found, it'll probably be closer to $650-$700 otherwise. To order the headers from Advance Headers is about $350, plus $100 for the welding and pipework (some piping needs to be changed as well due to rust), then about $200 for a full set of brand new CV's and shafts.

The lifters, water pump and so on I probably could have done myself, but we just agreed to knock it down all in one hit. I'm not being charged the labour to install the lifters, pump and so on anyway, only for the parts.

im not having a go at u or anything...but it's my personal opinion that if you want something done well, do it yourself. I've had WAY too many bad experiences with mechanics etc...personally, i'd have done it myself, hav peace of mind aswell.

im not having a go at u or anything...but it's my personal opinion that if you want something done well, do it yourself. I've had WAY too many bad experiences with mechanics etc...personally, i'd have done it myself, hav peace of mind aswell.
Man he isnt paying for labour!
Why do it yourself!
I'd be like friggin knock yourself out mate
Reckon they can hook up my adaptronic while there doing your car :bowrofl: all free hey

im not having a go at u or anything...but it's my personal opinion that if you want something done well, do it yourself. I've had WAY too many bad experiences with mechanics etc...personally, i'd have done it myself, hav peace of mind aswell.

Of course. :) I've had plenty of bad experiences with mechanics as well, this one isn't the case though. I know the staff there pretty well through work and elsewhere, he's worked on it before and worked nothing short of magic on it.

I do see what you mean though, have to be fairly careful and selective about who you trust with your car. Had a fair share of bad experiences and only really one good one.

Was going to have them drop in a different gearbox while they were at it, but I don't think i'd get that without a labour charge. :P Not that there's anything wrong with the current... lol

Went around there this afternoon. It looks amazing under there, all silver and chrome from the head to the catalytic converter. He starts it up, and it sounds amazing as well. No ticking, just revving.

He's still keeping it in for 2 more days to finish the work, CV joints and shafts have been ordered and are due for delivery tomorrow morning.

It's taken a while... but they've finally finished the necessary repair work. On top of everything else listed above, it also has new front and rear RDA disc rotors, and the RDA brake pads to match.

I'll have to try and get a few snaps of the headers tomorrow, when we pick it up.

The guy who worked on it is a legend, does great work and kept the price under $900 for everything.