Car mechanic wanted. ARP studs?

**The Pastor** · 25th January 2011, 12:46

Hi,

Looking for some advice about a head gasket job. Or a good mechanic. (Auckland)

Car is 1986 toyota supra 3.0L turbo. Genuine parts come to about $600 (head gasket + new head bolts).

I then rang the workshop (toyota albany) and he told me its a 15hr job to replace the head gasket. Is this correct? 15hrs seems a long amount of time to replace a head gasket, but I am aware that they do have to remove a lot of parts to gain access to the head, clean the head etc.

There charge out rate is $89/hr + gst. How dose this compare with the rest of the industry?

OR do you know a good mechanic I can talk to about this type of work, I'm not TOOO worried about price, I want a good result rather than a cheap job. Is this a hard job technically to DIY? I've done head gaskets on bikes before, no worries.

Also, the parts guy at toyota recommended to me using ARP studs instead of new head bolts. Anyone heard of them? work out cheaper than new bolts? ($14 a bolt for stock bolts, $200 all up!)

Thanks for your time.

**Motu** · 25th January 2011, 16:36

Originally Posted by renegade master

Hi,

its a 15hr job to replace the head gasket. Is this correct? 15hrs seems a long amount of time to replace a head gasket,

There charge out rate is $89/hr + gst.

A good mechanic should be able to do it in 3 hrs @$25 per hour.They are just trying to rip you off.

**DEATH_INC.** · 25th January 2011, 16:43

Originally Posted by renegade master

Also, the parts guy at toyota recommended to me using ARP studs instead of new head bolts. Anyone heard of them?

Ummmm...........try a google search. Or are you taking the piss?

Originally Posted by Motu

A good mechanic should be able to do it in 3 hrs @$25 per hour.They are just trying to rip you off.

I could do it in 2 @ $15 an hour, you're just trying to rip him off

**Edbear** · 25th January 2011, 18:31

Give Classic_Z a call on 09-424 0477. There are only two garages I trust, (that I know), his and my Bro-in-law and my Bro-in-law is too far away.

**Grumph** · 25th January 2011, 18:48

The studs are probably a good idea - the OE head bolts are one time use whereas the studs once fitted are good for several retorques...

Does their quoted time include reconning the head ?

**Marmoot** · 25th January 2011, 18:53

ARP head studs are more reliable as they have better strength properties than OEM studs. Very useful if your engine has been modified (higher boost or higher compressions). Even as standard engine, they would be a nice-to-have.

Not sure about 86 Supras, but if for a MKIV supra with sequential twin turbo, getting access to the head indeed needs a lot of man hours and foul swearing (just taking off the twin turbo system alone would take an experienced mechanics a good 2-3 hours, then the coils, then the valve covers, then the cams, then the head....then do the job before installing everything in reverse and make sure the timing/belt is proper).

Toyota workshop would charge about that hourly rate. They are not the cheapest bunch.

Go to www.supraforums.com.au, they have people you can talk to if you wanna DIY. Just be warned most of them are Aussies (although there are a few kiwis there).

**SMOKEU** · 25th January 2011, 18:57

Once you get it fixed you should peel a mean skid and get someone to film it so you can put it on Youtube. Come on, you know you want to!

**neels** · 25th January 2011, 18:59

For a nasty, nasty engine like that I would have thought 15 hours would be reasonable. If you did it yourself you'd quite easily end up in the garage all weekend.

Studs are a good idea, single use head bolts are a really shit invention.

**JimO** · 25th January 2011, 19:08

Originally Posted by Motu

A good mechanic should be able to do it in 3 hrs @$25 per hour.They are just trying to rip you off.

$25 a hr!!! robbers

**The Pastor** · 26th January 2011, 08:40

yeah i did find a Toyota work shop manual online, didn't realize how much work was involved in just getting to the head!

.

maybe classic zed is the guy to go to, only met him once ages ago - but have seen his work a number of time, hes pretty top notch.

**The Pastor** · 26th January 2011, 08:41

Originally Posted by Marmoot

ARP head studs are more reliable as they have better strength properties than OEM studs. Very useful if your engine has been modified (higher boost or higher compressions). Even as standard engine, they would be a nice-to-have.

Not sure about 86 Supras, but if for a MKIV supra with sequential twin turbo, getting access to the head indeed needs a lot of man hours and foul swearing (just taking off the twin turbo system alone would take an experienced mechanics a good 2-3 hours, then the coils, then the valve covers, then the cams, then the head....then do the job before installing everything in reverse and make sure the timing/belt is proper).

Toyota workshop would charge about that hourly rate. They are not the cheapest bunch.

Go to www.supraforums.com.au, they have people you can talk to if you wanna DIY. Just be warned most of them are Aussies (although there are a few kiwis there).

Thanks for that link, very helpful.

arp studs - are they hard to install or do they just bolt in?

**Marmoot** · 26th January 2011, 08:50

Originally Posted by renegade master

arp studs - are they hard to install or do they just bolt in?

Bolt in (assuming you get the correct one, i.e., not one for a different car type

).

**The Pastor** · 26th January 2011, 09:43

Originally Posted by Marmoot

Bolt in (assuming you get the correct one, i.e., not one for a different car type

).

they are also twice the price :P

I think from the amount of work involved I might just give it a go myself, and just torque the existing head bolts up to the required torque (75ft lbs i think).

Or should I leave it till the HG blows? (which it will)

**Marmoot** · 26th January 2011, 11:38

Not sure how true it is, but I do hear stories about MA70/71's tendency to blow their HG.

Do your ARP studs when taking the engine head off for HG repair, but I don't recommend taking the head off just to change the studs to ARP.

I hope that makes sense.

Should move this discussion into supraforums site. I'm not comfortable discussing this in here, to be honest. I feel like a rebel and the eyes of the government is on me.