Engine removal questions

[Josh B]

Be glad if you can pull the trans/engine yourself. I'm paying to have the very same thing done to my 2002 4WD 3.0L next week as I have no place to do it. I'm guessing $2K-3K, ouch! Mechanic will pull the trans to remove the leaking oil pan gasket.

If automatic trans, be sure to replace the front trans seal while you're at it. Also a good time to flush the cooling system and replace those awful spring type hose clamps with geared clamps.

Another thing - my timing case cover is leaking coolant at the engine joint. Mechanic will fix that while at it. You might check yours.

Ouch! is certainly correct there sir. There are good mechanics out there and they make good money, and I know dam well deserve it. There are some not so good, who also charge the same, sad fact of life I suppose. If you have a good one, and can afford it, that's great.
My luck hasn't been so great it seems, of the times in my life(which I can almost count on one hand) I have taken one to a shop I have regretted it every time. Even the good ones who did it, or simply made it look, easy

I like that old joke, the doctor who had a plumber hand him the bill. The doctor looks at the bill and says "I don't make that kind of money and I'm a doctor!" The plumber just smiled and said "I know that, neither did I, when I was a doctor"