I've decided to start working on cars on the side (I'm a medic FT) for a little extra cash. The $40-60 here and there has been reasonable doing starters and alternators, but I have a customer with a bigger problem. I've got a guy with an '01 Malibu sporting the 3.1L OHV engine that has a blown head gasket. I know how much a shop would charge, but I'm not a shop. I'm just a guy looking to make some gas money. Most people would say turn it down and tell them to go to a garage. First off, these [car owners] are good people, second, a lot of the business I get is by word of mouth. If I turn this down (which I'm not gonna do, BTW) then I'd lose any referrals he'd give me. But here's the big question. How much should I charge for labor to do these head gaskets? I quoted "a few hundred" when initially asked. I'm thinking $300-400 should be reasonable, as the 3.1 is a relatively simple motor to work on. I had the same engine in a Pontiac a few years ago and was quoted $900 plus parts and supplies for a HG. Think of it like I am; how much would I have to pay in labor for me to think it's a good deal if I were paying for it, while still making it worth it for the mechanic?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, I just got back from doing a block test. It turned as yellow as pee, that gasket's toast.

It honestly depends on the labor rates in your area. IIRC the last one that was done at the shop that I work at was around 7-800; but this was doing extras to it while in there as well. It's not a "horrible" job- but like any head job not real pleasant.

He just called a few min ago and when I told him "I'm not going to charge you and arm and a leg for labor, it shouldn't be more than a few hundred dollars" he immediately perked up and seemed eager to get it started. The cars been sitting for a year so I know I'll have tto do a bit more than just swapping gaskets. I'm gonna write him a work order for new fuel, oil, and air filters, new plugs, and a new PCV valve as well.

Most 3.1s I ever played with had intake gasket issues. The only time head gaskets came up, was when they were constantly driven low on antifreeze.

Compression testing a warm motor would reveal if it was truly a head gasket (or bubbles in the degauss bottle). Coated spark plugs can also be from an intake gasket leak, as can loss of antifreeze with no drips, and, antifreeze in the oil.

Just like the 2.8 before it, there are "better", more reliable, intake gaskets out there.

For what it's worth, GM charges 9.6 hours for the Right side, 9.3 hours for the Left side, and 11.6 hours for both sides. Whatever your hourly rate is, make it worth your while to spend 12+ hours on the project.

Well I'd like to get $300 for the job, $400 would be even better. I just got back from pricing the whole job at AZ, parts for the HG alone are about $275, a little more for the "upgraded" Felpro gasket set.

Most 3.1s I ever played with had intake gasket issues. The only time head gaskets came up, was when they were constantly driven low on antifreeze.

Compression testing a warm motor would reveal if it was truly a head gasket (or bubbles in the degauss bottle). Coated spark plugs can also be from an intake gasket leak, as can loss of antifreeze with no drips, and, antifreeze in the oil.

Just like the 2.8 before it, there are "better", more reliable, intake gaskets out there.

True that, but it happened more often than not that 1 out of 20 or so that it would need the HG because of it (at the shop)!!

Well I'd like to get $300 for the job, $400 would be even better. I just got back from pricing the whole job at AZ, parts for the HG alone are about $275, a little more for the "upgraded" Felpro gasket set.

Is the couple hundred you quoted with parts or just labor? Hopefully just labor????

$300-400 for the labor. I'll be working on it on my day off using tools I already have to install parts they pay for. Ultimately, anything I charge is going to be pure profit, as I wouldn't make any money at all if I just sat at home playing Call of Duty.

;)

Cost me $912 to replace the head gasket on my 98 Cutlass 3.1