Ok, I'm pretty sure I won't need to wash for a month after getting taken to the cleaners this time, but I had no other choice.
Long story short, I had a coolant leak (not too heavy), went to the AutoZone to pick up a compresion tester and came out to a hydrolocked engine (it must've blown out much more on the trip to the store). I had it towed to a shop in town that I had heard good things about and got the call a day later... $2350 for headgasket, valve job, oil, coolant, and all the jazz associated. 14 hrs of labor @ $74/hr.

Whadaya think? I know I can't do anything about it now, but I just want to hear what you guys think about this places charges.

sounds right but isn't hydrolocked mean you fawk the block too

too bad you couldn't have done it yourself the 3800 isn't hard to change the head gaskets at all, i would do it again if i had to for sure

Hydrolocked when cranking isn't too big of an issue. Just burn up the starter and some wiring if you don't stop. Now, hydrolocking when you're driving down the road (CAI low to the ground sucking water) is really bad.

$74/hr is a bit high, but if they do quality work, it might be worth it to know it was done correctly.

I was hoping it was just the plenum (I replaced upper and lower intake gaskets about 6 months ago), but it was locked solid away from home and I just got too frustrated with it. The shop confirmed that there was no damage done by the water-lock but I'm sure figuring that out will cost me too.
Oh well.

DIY?

Ok, just got news back.... Not just head gasket.... both heads are cracked. F&$K!!! Now $3250. Any suggestions for a cheap place to order heads or just a new engine?

ed morad or a junkyard.

where are they cracked? ask to see them and snap some pics?

Every set of 3800 heads has had small cracks near the valves. But that wouldnt cause coolant to leak.

I have no idea, the machine shop called back and said there would be no point to machine the heads because they are both cracked. I feel really hands off with this one so far. I just started back up at school and am moving couldn't be a worse time to be down to one car. I'm trying to call Ed now, but his line is always busy.

wait.. you have an L36...

I have a set of heads in my garage... but shippping is going to suck on them...

I have a set of L36 heads as well that I could get rid of for cheap... I say if you can work on your car, this would be a much better DIY and save that grand in labor....

I just got in touch with Morad. 1500 shipped for an L36 w/ transmission attached, 38K miles from a 2001 GT rear passenger collision donor. Whaddaya think? I'm thinking it sounds pretty good. Any guesses on how much it'd cost to get put in?

Thats a great deal. How many miles?

I did mine in about 8 hours, that was with the car in driving condition... So if you look at that for a figure for labor charges... shop around, if you have some buddys willing to help, rent an engine hoist for (here they run about $25 a day) and spend a weekend DIY...

Also, I got my engine from Ed over a year ago. Runs great, Highly recommend him.

38,000 miles.

Not only do I not have space in the garage because of moving, but I have no friends with any sort of technical inclination here in columbia. Right now I have resigned myself to paying for labor at a place I can trust and spending my time studying. Anyhow, I'm waiting on a quote back from the shop its at now and then I'll start shopping.

Ok, one more quick question.... Does anyone know if this 2001 tranny will work in my 99 gt? The guy from the shop called back and said that he had someone tell him it won't work. Something about the 99 tranny being year specific or something.

97s are the odd balls.