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Originally Posted by Scruffboy
l woul like him to tear it down to the gasket and let me inspect it.
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And then what? What are you going to inspect that a mechanic won't be able to? You going to break out a straight edge and check for warpage? What exactly are you going to be looking for?
How to go about it? Just ask him straight up. I doubt he is going to call you up and wait for you to be free and come down to look at your block. Most mechanics get paid flat rate which means they don't have time to wait around for the customer to come inspect their car in the middle of a repair. That makes them think you don't trust them and they might tell you to take it somewhere you do trust. Thats the whole reason you take it to a mechanic to have them deal with it. If you want to look at your block, then do it yourself. As far as the bolts and gasket that should not be a problem. But getting a mechanic to torque the head bolts more than 58ft/lbs, will.
And the parts alone will be about $600. This mechanic is forgetting this car is 20 years old and every single rubber vacuum line and coolant line will split when he takes it off which will require a new one from the dealer which are not cheap. What about the machine work? Did you ask this mechanic if he will magnaflux and plane the head? What about the timing belt and tensioner? Thats the only reason why I said to do it yourself because a mechanic will reuse every possible part he can just to get the job done, while if you do it you can replace things while you are already taking it apart. There is no sense in replacing a head gasket and reusing the timing belt and tensioner. You have to take these things off anyways why not replace them now instead of when it snaps leaving you stranded and with a hefty tow and repair bill? Just some food for thought.