Looks like he can't even take a diff cover off either lol

 

For 3k I could replace most of my drive train and lift it. I guess I'm going into the heater core business.

 

$3000 for a heater core, for what?? Maybe for a Mercedes or BMW, possibly some Japanese cars, definitely not for a Jeep.

Shop labor for a heater core for an XJ is 6-8 hours plus about $50-$100 (quality aftermarket replacement) for parts. $500-$800 is about right for this job at a shop (depending on what local Labor rates are).

 

Lol just saw that.

Pretty sure I could make instructional videos on both of those things in less than five minutes.. While holding the camera the whole time

 

Still way too much in my opinion.

 

...takes me 6 hours for a head gasket, 2 days for a motor swap, 3 for a tranny swap (auto to manual)....I think all times are per person. And if you ha e help, attitude etc...to the op, I can sympathise with getting another person to do some jobs. You gotta weigh your personal time vs cost sometimes, you just need a break. Anyways, good on you for keeping it

Edit: lol @ bimmer

 

call me crazy but I enjoy doing head gaskets. I get frustrated with motor swaps, but I get conned into them a lot. wiring angers me.

 

I like head gaskets as well...as long as they aren't for mine lol. Motor swaps I like because once the old block is out you can really tear into it

 

not trying to hijack but parsnip how terrible is the tranny swap?

 

Not bad if you have something other then gravel to lay in, took me and my buddy 3 days, all in all wasn't too bad and definately worth it. Verrrrry dirty though lol

 

I think that it is all about knowing your limitations. Certainly when I bought the Jeep I thought that I would start to do some of the work on it and learn about it as I go. I just don't think that I am ready to start pulling the dash out just yet and I just don't have the equipment for the main seal work. I will also get the mechanic to put a new clutch in while the engine is apart for main seal which seems a sensible thing to do.

I will keep updating this post with the work, the time it took and the costs.

 

For ****s-n-giggles I asked a shop what they'd charge me to replace the heater core in my wifes Jeep since I was low on time. $450.00 + parts.

I laughed and left.

But, you're in the ball park.

I could make an instructional video on both of those things in less than five minutes, while holding the camera, drinking a beer and taking a 3 minute smoke break in the middle.

Yup. That's why I did it myself.

It's not hard at all. It can just be slightly time consuming.

 

The engine doesn't come apart for the RMS job. You only drop the oil pan.

Clutch is a whole different ball game.

 

Nope, my friend paid $3000 to get his Jeep heater core replaced at the Jeep dealer. Supply and demand in action, my friends. This stuff is no joke. Big money skills.

 

That dealership came out well... I could see $700 but wow.

Supply and demand and price manipulating people like you are two different things.