At 12:45 PM 02/15/2000 EST, you wrote:
>The difference in the quotes wasn't due to one including heads and the other
>not--the estimates are $500 apart for the gasket job only.
>
>But furthermore,  the mechanic with the cheaper estimate says he most often
>CAN reuse the same heads, and the other fellow says almost always needs new
>heads at $500 each.
>
>Now, I don't wan't to just go to the guy who's gonna give me good news, but I
>don't want to pay $1000 needlessly.  The engine has 99,000 miles and a pretty
>significant leak causing obvious daily loss of coolant (ie, need to top it
>off every day).
>
>what are the probabilities here?

If existing compression is descent factory spec, new heads may not be
needed. It would depend upon inspection after dissassembly to determine. If
compression balance is weak, new heads only unless followup leak down shows
the pressure loss at rings only.

Anyone who stated they can do the work without new heads before they get
them off there is someone to run from. Budget for new heads, then if they
standup to testing and inspection you can consider reducing the budget.

Whether the exiting heads are reusable is frankly unknown until both tested
and inspected. Before teardown, you can test compression and leak down as
well as valve stem/guide wear. Anything out of spec here or close to limits
means new heads in the budget before teardown.

T.P. Stephens aka Doktor Tim
San Juan Island, WA