Approx cost to replace head gasket

My son’s 98 Chevy truck needs a new head gasket (or so he has been told). Anybody have a ballpark figure to get it done?

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My son’s 98 Chevy truck needs a new head gasket (or so he has been told). Anybody have a ballpark figure to get it done?

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VERY, VERY common.
I had mine done a few years ago. I do not remember how much it was. Sorry

why did they say it needs a new one?? how did they determine that ??

Most of the time they need intake gaskets .its been a long time since I have seen bad head gaskets on those engines

Mine actually went out on my old 93 chev 3/4ton. 350 engine. I was “seeping” antifreeze into one of the cylinders. So light that hardly noticed anything out the pipe, but enough to foul out a plug in a few 1000 miles.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of details. I know it was overheating and when antifreeze was added it did not maintain the proper level.

Anyone have an approximation on the price? Just wondering if it is $250, $800, $1500…etc.

i’d have at least a G ready.

cash for clunkers candidate??

If you have the 5.7l engine, its a 12 hour job (book time), which is what a shop will charge. Assuming they are doing both banks. 9 hours if only 1 side. At metro dealer pricing, youd be looking at $1500+. Find yourself a good independent and you’d likely get it done for $1000.

Make sure your comfortable with the fact that it needs head gaskets before spending the money, or get a second opinion. Best of luck!

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why did they say it needs a new one?? how did they determine that ??

Most of the time they need intake gaskets .its been a long time since I have seen bad head gaskets on those engines

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Ditto… my bet is intake gasket… much more common.

Upper gskt = 2.0 hrs, lower = 3.5 hours. Much cheaper than a headgasket. I would find out for sure.

big G

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If you have the 5.7l engine, its a 12 hour job (book time), which is what a shop will charge. Assuming they are doing both banks. 9 hours if only 1 side. At metro dealer pricing, youd be looking at $1500+. Find yourself a good independent and you’d likely get it done for $1000.

Make sure your comfortable with the fact that it needs head gaskets before spending the money, or get a second opinion. Best of luck!

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I’m agree with AJ. I did this myself, on a 2 years ago. 1998 5.7 liter Tahoe. In my case, a valve spring broke & a valve bent. I knew the head needed to come off to replace the valve so I quoted it as a headgasket. The heads were sent out to be checked & measured. The machine shop also took extra time to remove the aluminum coolant nipple off the top of the intake. I would expect it to break. The only special tooling needed aside from the usual was a distributor wrench and 2 torque wrenches. inch lbs & foot lbs. While the intake is off (doing head gaskets) you should have it cleaned which should equate to another hour of labor. Parts were head bolts because they can only be used once, Gasket sets, coolant, oil, new plugs & exhaust bolts.

I would agree with $12-1500 if it is the head. I did the lower intake on my 350 Chev last year, it was a job but doable. PM if you want a good cert’d independant, he takes side jobs in addition to his day job, very resonable. Where are you located?

Thanks for the feedback and the estimates…I really appreciate it. The truck is my son’s and it broke down in the state of Maine, 3 hours from where he lives. So he has it at a shop that he knows nothing about and is really at their mercy.

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Thanks for the feedback and the estimates…I really appreciate it. The truck is my son’s and it broke down in the state of Maine, 3 hours from where he lives. So he has it at a shop that he knows nothing about and is really at their mercy.

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OUCH I will do those GM head jobs ALL day long for $1000.00 out the door