Two different European repair shops in my area told me that they couldnt replace the head gasket on my 99 C70 2.3 HPT because you need a special set of tools to take the head off. WTF?????? Is this true or is just alot of work and they didnt feel like doing it. The dealer quoted $2200 to replace the head gasket and that is assuming that the head is not warped or cracked. OUTRAGEOUS!!!!! My friend is a mechanic and said we can replace the gasket in no time and was in disbelief when I told him that there may be the need to use special tools to get the head off. His reply was that in over 15 years of working on foreign and domestic cars he had never heard of anything like that. I was told these tools cost around $700 to $1000. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Well lets just say there are special tools needed, did these mechs tell you what exactly the tools were? Or did they just tell you "special tools are need"?

 

Also, this is just me but if they would charge $2200 and you can get these special tools for <$1000, I'd add to my toolbox and do it myself.

However, I don't know what this job entails.

 

They didnt say what the special tools were or exactly how much they cost but somewhere between $700 to $1000 is what one mechanic said. Do you know what special tools are required to do this job?

 

No I don't if you need special tools or not.

What I was trying to get at was getting more information from you to help this thread along. But since they didn't give you much info it didn't help.

Anyways contact TECH and tel him your issue.

 

Since it is a 1999 car is has a VVT (Variable Valve Timing)
The main Special tool you will need is a Cam Lock tool. It goes in the back of the cams to hold the cams in the proper position so nothing moves.
Also there is supposed to be a special tool to release the Cam cover while taking it off.
It takes it off level so it doesn't crack the Cam cover. Also it is used when installing the Cam cover. When installing the Cam cover compresses the lifters when pressing it down.

At work we made a tool for the Cam cover. We almost boxed a piece of metal with a hole in it. It crosses the Cam cover in the grooves where the spark plug cover sits.
The welded a threaded rod to a spark plug after breaking all the porclin out of the plug.
Screw the threaded rod into the hole with the plug side.
Then install a nut on the other side and tighten/loosed against the bracket we made.

 

Thanks for the info. Tech I have been quoted from $2000-$2500 todo the head gasket and if the head is bad then $3000-3500 does that sound about right? $7k for a 99 Volvo 5 months ago and then this. I am just about ready to drive this lemon into a lake! LOL

 

That is about the normal price for a head job.

 

These are the tools Volvo says needed for the head gasket