Head Gasket - DIY?

[Angella]

I've been poking around on this forum for a few hours, and I've found lots of great information. But, I want to make sure we are doing the right thing by this car, so I thought I should post.


A friend has asked us to work on her car... it's a 94 4runner with about 130k on the clock. Keep in mind, it's been a great car for her... but she doesn't want to invest too much money in it. We are fairly experienced in engines and transmissions, but not on Toyota's... still with a Haynes manual, I think we can muddle through (and still feel more comfortable than I would taking it to a shop).


The Goodyear shop she has taken it to in the past wanted $2500 for the head job, and then gave her a line about how only rebuilding only the top of the engine could compromise the integrity of the vehicle, even though everything else looks fine. : ) The shop recommended an engine swap (I think they were looking for more work = money), and from what I'm reading the 3.0 isn't the best engine, but it's a hard worker (gas pig) - and she's not interested in putting more money than necessary into the car. I don't have the car yet, but plan to call MAG or another shop to see if the recall work has been done (I've read about the problem with the head gasket), before I jump into it.

The gasket kit is running around $195 locally, then $30 for each set of head bolts (2 sets). With fluids and all of the other little extras, I would think I can come in under $400 for parts. The local napa machine shop says it can totally recondition both heads for around $260 (at the worst), if needed.

So, I'm wanting some opinions... is it worth doing this work for her? And is there some great online store to find parts and get them here quickly (places I've found are around the same prices).

Also, the shop told her she needs a new radiator soon... usually a simple task, but we usually work on our own cars (m3, z06, cherokee, sebring, sunfire, ranger, probe) so it's a different beast. The radiator looks like it's going to run about $170 for the part...

I'll have the haynes manual by this evening, but we need to get her car done no later than this weekend... please let me know your thoughts.

[Sidney]

That quote is way too high usually an honest reasonably priced mechanic who has experience in these engines would charge $500-600,always get a second,third,fourth and more opinions.
I would call your local community colleges/vocational schools and they will replace it for free if not find a friend,relative,neighbour or co-worker who like to repair cars on the side as a hobby or a favour or even trade services or buy them several cases of beer.
If that fails find a local off-road club and you will find severak people that own 4-Runners,pickups and landcruisers where those people have all of the experience and will replace your headgasket and check the cylinder head for warpage for around $300.

Sidney
Repair tv's,vcr's,home/car audio out of my home
E-mail:sidneybek(at)yahoo.com
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing chrome bumper with 243 000 KM