1996 Z26 Coolant Leak

[lmnjlo]

Well to no surprise....my '96 Z26 is still leaking coolant from the timing chain cover. In the last 4 years....that car has only been driven and on the road for about 2000 miles due to bad head gaskets, brake lines that broke, etc. I have tried to fix the timing chain cover gasket myself with no prevail. Even with the proper puller, I am unable to get the pulley off. So....the Chevy dealership here wants $780 to do the job. Im sick of working on this damn car. Any thoughts on that price for the repair?

[Rettax3]

Swap the engine, make your life easier. For a good engine from the salvage yard -$150, for an engine-hoist if you don't already have one -$150, getting rid of a (sorry for the pun) 'lemon' of an engine -priceless.

[3X00-Modified]

Yikes... Whats the issue your having with the puller?

What did you buy?

All I use is one of these



$780 is quite expensive but it's not the easiest job.

[lmnjlo]

Yup. That is the puller I have. The pulley kept spinning so I had to hold it. Now the pulley is bent and still won't come off.

[3X00-Modified]

To remove I will sometimes put a prybar between two of the bolts secured to the pulley to prevent rotation of the pulley and then operate the puller... another way is to have someone use a screw driver and lock the flywheel in place against the transmission housing. Unfortunately with an automatic these are the only ways to prevent the engine from turning over.

[lmnjlo]

Sadly I need an extra pair of hands. I cant hold the pulley still while I try to remove it. Who wants to fly to California? lol

[lmnjlo]

Just found a shop 2 miles from my house with a lot of good reviews on Yelp that will fix my timing cover gasket for $461. DEAL!

I am taking it to them tomorrow.

[themixer]

ideal situation

[MY91GT(Z)]

Sounds like a good price to me

[lmnjlo]

Well. Car is in the shop. They just called and asked me what engine was in the car. Ummm. You have the car...pretty sure the engine is in it.

Anyways they are going to replace the timing chain and guides too for an additional $150. Might as well. They already have it apart I guess. Car has 136,000 miles on it. Guess it's time anyways.

[Rettax3]

Well. Car is in the shop. They just called and asked me what engine was in the car. Ummm. You have the car...pretty sure the engine is in it.

Inspires confidence, doesn't it?

It does sound like a good price though, for a shop. I've never had to replace the timing set on any of my V-6s, but I have heard of people that have had excessive chain-wear and valve-train lash at less miles than you have on your engine, so not a bad idea to have it done, especially at that price. I would say to have them return the old parts to you though, unless you trust these guys 100%...

[2.2H8TA]

That price is outrageous! I had the chain cover gasket done on the red 96 Z last year for way cheaper. I'd have to dig out the recipt, but I'm thinking it was like a $150 job.

[lmnjlo]

Well...get this...On my way home last night my windshield started to fog up and I started to smell coolant. I think you know where I am going with this. Halfway home the heater core (factory plastic piece of crap) blew and i lost all the coolant. After a $100 tow ride home there it sits...again.
So...guess what I am doing tonight? If you guessed heater core you are correct. Im going to replace the heater hoses, the radiator hoses and a leaking Power steering line as well. Im already in there...might as well.

[woody90gtz]

Sounds like the year I had last year. I wanted to crush my car. But it does get better!

[88corsica5spd28]

Sounds like the year I had last year. I wanted to crush my car. But it does get better!

Eventually you fix everything that needs fixed.

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