I got F'd in the A today. (timing belt/gaskets)

[bigshynepo]

Took in 1995 Cutlass 3.4 to the garage to get a UIM/LIM gasket change and a timing belt replacment. Figured it would be 1000 bucks.

 

Now on top of the Gasket kit, new manifold bolts and a new timing belt, I need:

 

1 Timing tensioner

2 Timing pulleys

1 Hydraulic Accuator

1 Oil Pump valley gasket

1 timing belt cover (mine is cracked)

2 EGR gaskets

1 intake manifold oring

1 throttle body o-ring/gasket

 

So much for his 1100 dollar estimate. Now it's $2022.00. At least I know he's doing everything right but jebus....

At least the only thing left to go now is the transmission...oh and the head gaskets....or I could throw a rod....or someone could pour sugar in my gas tank...

 

Good ol W-Body headaches. Car is in the garage till tomorrow....I wonder if the cost will go up another $1000 by then.

[slick]

Why don't you do it yourself and save well over $1000.

[bigshynepo]

I live in a crowded crescent with 2 other people sharing my garage/driveway. Not only do I not have the space but I am not mechanically inclined when it comes to the 3.4 DOHC. I would hate to bugger it up forgetting a step and then have a useless engine.

 

Plus, right now, the cutty is my daily driver. Better to have it in the garage for 48 hours than have it out of commision for a week and a half while I try to put humpty back together again.

 

Now my 1969 lincoln on the other hand is a piece of cake to work on...

[slick]

The intake gaskets are cake to do. I can have both the upper and lower intakes off(that includes pulling the fuel rail) on a 3.4 in less than 1 hour. The timing belt, I never got to do, but doesn't really look all that bad.

 

I really think that if you are going to have it done, take it elsewhere. That shop is raping you for everything. I bet they could do it in 1 day if they really wanted, but because of what the "repair manual" calls for, they are getting another 8-10 hours of labor out of you for nothing.

 

IMO, of course.

[Psych0matt]

timing belt = cake (2 or 3 hours if everything goes smoothly)

all the other stuff is just as easy, just takes some wrenching

[CSI_MuNkY]

I'm about to do all the gaskets on the top half of my 3.4L DOHC. My only concern is getting the timing set back up properly.

I can understand what he means not wanting to bugger up a good engine.

 

*edit*

its costing me $226 for the gasket set, the garage I go to said the lowest price they could give me was in the $1000 range by thetime they marked up the part and added their labour. They also said the would not reinstall the heads without having them inspected at a machine shop...another added cost

 

 

Jamie

[bigshynepo]

Well, what can I say, I wish there was a larger, more mechanically inclined w-body membership up here in Edmonton. I would've gladly paid one of you to do it as in...10 cases of beer

 

I guess the majority of the timing belt assembly parts that need replacing are parts that you can't really tell if they need replaced until you take things apart and get a good look at them.

 

slick94prix, regarding the labor thing, they are charging me book rates on doing the timing belt and gasket change but everything else that they tacked on afterwards is all just charges for parts. I guess the Hydraulic Actuator from GM is 199.00 bucks alone.

[slick]

slick94prix, regarding the labor thing, they are charging me book rates on doing the timing belt and gasket change but everything else that they tacked on afterwards is all just charges for parts. I guess the Hydraulic Actuator from GM is 199.00 bucks alone.

 

Yeah, thats how shops charge. They don't charge on how long it actually takes, but on how long the book says it will take them. They are probably quoting your for a good 12-18 hours of labor when it may only take them 6 hours of labor. Thats just money in their pockets.

[bigshynepo]

Yeah, thats how shops charge. They don't charge on how long it actually takes, but on how long the book says it will take them. They are probably quoting your for a good 12-18 hours of labor when it may only take them 6 hours of labor. Thats just money in their pockets.

 

I know But anyone who goes to a dealer or a independant mechanic knows that. I don't think you would find a mechanic out there running a legit shop that doesn't charge a flat rate. (unless they are a friend of yours or something)

 

I don't mind paying a little extra to have someone else do it, but why do DOHC parts have to be so damn expensive....

Is it because every 3.4 out there needs the same parts replaced so they are in short supply or because GM made the 3.4 so miserable, matienance wise, so they could specifically charge a fortune for the parts destined to break....?

 

[bigshynepo]

Oh and for the people who have done this kinda of work themselves, what if things don't go smoothly?

Like, what is the worst case scenario?

 

[fastbird232]

Well, what can I say, I wish there was a larger, more mechanically inclined w-body membership up here in Edmonton.

 

There are actually a bunch of guys in Edmonton. I think there are more members in that city than in any other.

[Psych0matt]

check to see if your cam gears have timing marks. if they do, its so much easier

[bigshynepo]

There are actually a bunch of guys in Edmonton. I think there are more members in that city than in any other.

 

We just make alot of noise but I think there are only 5? Me, skiiirt, pabz, nametnom...and? I'm sure there is one more.

 

But, now i'm not sure about pabz, I know none of us would do either of these ourselves with any degree of assurance or professionalism.

 

It may be expensive to go to a mechanic but you are also getting a guarentee or warranty on the work done in alot of cases too.

[slick]

Oh and for the people who have done this kinda of work themselves, what if things don't go smoothly?

Like, what is the worst case scenario?

 

 

Worst case scenario? I have about 10-15 fellow w-body.com members in my cell phone. I give them a call, and they can answer a question, if I have one. Or... if it doesn't work, I uninstall the part, and figure out why.

 

 

[slick]

 

I know But anyone who goes to a dealer or a independant mechanic knows that. I don't think you would find a mechanic out there running a legit shop that doesn't charge a flat rate. (unless they are a friend of yours or something)

 

I know a couple local mechanics at home that are more than willing to lower costs if they don't spend the "book" time on the repairs. Just think, 3 years ago when I didn't know diddly about fixing cars, I used to take mine there all the time. My parents still take there cars to the same place. Basically, they want your business as a loyal customer, and will keep it no matter what. We were good customers, so they cut us breaks. They liked us enough that there were a few times we could go down and talk to them about some symptoms, and they would give us a few ideas.

 

 

 

I don't mind paying a little extra to have someone else do it, but why do DOHC parts have to be so damn expensive....

Is it because every 3.4 out there needs the same parts replaced so they are in short supply or because GM made the 3.4 so miserable, matienance wise, so they could specifically charge a fortune for the parts destined to break....?

 

No, it's not that they are expensive compared to the rest, but it is just parts that is highly highly recommended that you replace everytime you do your timing belt.

 

Truthfully, I've never had any miserable experiences maintenance wise with a 3.4 dohc. Yes, I had to replace my share of alternators(in fact, check out the FAQ's, I have a 45 minute write up on how to do it), and I've had the typical repairs that any person should, but in all reality, the engine itself is pretty reliable. How often do you hear of head gaskets going, or intake gaskets going(definately not near as often as you hear about it on the 3x00's or the 3800's). Just do the typical maintenance that a DOHC requires over a pushrod, and your alright.

 

[patgizz]

Oh and for the people who have done this kinda of work themselves, what if things don't go smoothly?

Like, what is the worst case scenario?

 

 

Worst case scenario? I have about 10-15 fellow w-body.com members in my cell phone. I give them a call, and they can answer a question, if I have one. Or... if it doesn't work, I uninstall the part, and figure out why.

 

 

 

heh. i think i'm on top of the list. i always got called any time you guys had the z34 torn apart

[skiiirt]

Worst case scenario? I have about 10-15 fellow w-body.com members in my cell phone. I give them a call, and they can answer a question, if I have one. Or... if it doesn't work, I uninstall the part, and figure out why.

 

Wish we could have the luxury of 100 different cities in a 50 mile radius. Up here in Canada we have to travel 300KM to get to the next major city. Besides, the only one in edmonton that has shown true skill behind the wrench is Pabz, and we all know he is in a world of work with his sunroof and his convertible

 

As for the comments on do-it-yourself. if the manuals were written as clearly as this forums How To's then things would be different. In the manuals you see a specific part taken out of context. Sure I understand what to do, but how do I get to that part.. where is that part?

Its frustrating enough asking questions here trying not to get "Use the search button" as answers.

 

[Cam'ron]

truer words have never been spoken... i am in the same boat as bigshynepo right now, just it isnt as big a boat...

i am looking at about a 400 bill from the stealership for some work on my monte that i thought would be covered by my GMPP warranty but it wasnt, well half of it wasnt and i OK'd the work... stupid me

 

took it in for a steering box related thing that was covered and for some tranny diagnostic work, i must have mentioned tranny service instead of look at it and tell me what is wrong, cause they didd their tranny service package on it today for a measly 230 bucks

 

taking it back tomorrow for the steering thing, they had to wait for the part to come in.

 

all in all i am guessing it will be close to 400 by the time they are done... guess i do my brakes my self next payday

[89GP_SE]

the only thing I have never done is suspension and brakes. Only reason is that I am deathly afraid of fucking up with not installing a strut, or ball joint or tierod or cv shaft properly and killing someone. Brakes, well I have never had to do them, but the time has come, so its time to learn. The only thing I say to ppl that want to learn how to fix cars is, DONT be afraid to get your hands dirty and start tearing it apart.

[bigshynepo]

... guess i do my brakes my self next payday

 

We're a real pair. My front left just started squeeling last week and after I got the bill for these repairs first thing I said was "well, guess I'm doing the brakes myself"... too funny. and tragic.

[skiiirt]

... guess i do my brakes my self next payday

 

We're a real pair. My front left just started squeeling last week and after I got the bill for these repairs first thing I said was "well, guess I'm doing the brakes myself"... too funny. and tragic.

 

Now you understand why I go to John

[slick]

the only thing I have never done is suspension and brakes. Only reason is that I am deathly afraid of fucking up with not installing a strut, or ball joint or tierod or cv shaft properly and killing someone. Brakes, well I have never had to do them, but the time has come, so its time to learn. The only thing I say to ppl that want to learn how to fix cars is, DONT be afraid to get your hands dirty and start tearing it apart.

 

The brakes on these cars are probably the easiest that there is.

[slick]

Oh and for the people who have done this kinda of work themselves, what if things don't go smoothly?

Like, what is the worst case scenario?

 

 

Worst case scenario? I have about 10-15 fellow w-body.com members in my cell phone. I give them a call, and they can answer a question, if I have one. Or... if it doesn't work, I uninstall the part, and figure out why.

 

 

 

heh. i think i'm on top of the list. i always got called any time you guys had the z34 torn apart

 

Not all the time. But, I always knew that if I needed to know something the avg. member wouldn't know, you were the one to call. You know pretty much every damn thing on these cars!

[WhiteMonteZZZ]

I contacted a local Chevy dealership specializing in Vette work around here and got a detailed quote of just over 1000 dollars US. This included all the parts you mentioned (tensioner, all gaskets that would need to be replaced, among other countless items). Now, I'm sure if they tear my car apart, I'd need something or another on top of that (nature of the beast-so to speak), but I doubt it'd be another 1000 dollars. That seems high to me....though I don't really know as this dealership is the first and only I've contacted so far.

[Cam'ron]

well mine wasnt as bad as i thought after all, turns out they didnt do the tranny service, i dont know what the hell i was hearing from them yesterday... anyways all i can say is thank christ for extended warranty... the total bill for the steering part replacement was over 1100 bucks, i ended up paying only :sigh: 188 to cover the deductible and the diagnosis of the tranny... better than nothing i guess