I own a 1G Eclipse GS with the larger motor (non-turbo). The timing belt broke and expect that the head needs reworked or replaced. This car is a base car and the cost to repair is more than I paid for it. I can work on the car but really do not have the place or the tools needed to get the job done. Mechanic is saying $1200 or more depending on damage. I am trying to decide wether repair is worhtwhile.

My question is, what is the most economical way to fix/replace the head? Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

sohc or dohc ????

 

first off you would need to decide on what the damage is. This wont be accomplished until you do a compression test. Look online. A compression test is simple to do and will imediately tell you what the damage is.

Did the TB come off while you were driving? If it did im sorry to say youll defintly need some work done. Just to give you an idea when my TB went i paid 2k total to have everything replaced. The problem is that you have to have the head sent to a machine shop in order for them to check it and rebuild it with new valves, ect. Which is typically at least $400. Let alone the work to remove/intall everything.

Honestly if you are even a bit mechanically inclined and have most of the usual household tools you could do the work yourself. It is a decent ammount of work but for the most part removing a head isnt all that difficult, especially on these motors. Just get a haynes repair manual and they will have a whole "how to" on it.

Unfortunately that is the only "cheap" way out of this scenario. Other than that you are stuck with a mechanics cost which sorry to say will most likely be $1500-$2000

there is always burning it and claiming insurance? hahah JK. But if the costs outweigh the car price then you may be more apt to sell it to a junk yard for $300 or so. Thats always the other end of it