i had my cossie head off recently

BEing a mechanic I thought that it would only cost me about £200 to do the gasket change......

however, it being a cossie and me not wanting it to go wrong etc etc, i take the head off and buy the bits for putting it bck together......

firstly - it would have only cost me about £250 ish thats with a group A head gasket, all new gaskets all over the head, new stem seals fitted by me, re ground valves, new belt and tensioner....but i decided to get some new lifters too which bumped the total up to jsut short of £400 already.

Theni took the head to engineers as i thort best to have a skim which is abotu £30 but whilst it was off i thought sod it get it pressure checked, fully cleaned and checked over - they ring me, 'it wants most of the valve guides replacing they are all knackered' they said - so £300 later i have my new valve guides fitted, ne stem seals supplied by me, new cam end seals from me, new lifters from me and i have a clean, lightly skimmed, crack/pressure tested head! so the total no £700

then i get home, try to get crank pulley off - no cahnce its stuck on there - bust the pulley and the crank sensor - thats another £70 for those which is lucky cos they are usualyl a lot more! Then a new p/sterring pump as my one is bent £20, new plugs £15..... £800 total so far

then i go to fords, order 16 new exhaust manifold studs, nuts and washers, and a few other bits - £100!!!!! I couldnt believe it when they told me but had to have the bits - im sure there was something else with the studs etc but the nuts, studs and washers alone came to abotu £45-£50 which was astonishing! I really cant rememebr what else i got with it tho....so thats £900!!

pull the hoses out of my boot, they are all knackered n perished - set of 6 silicone water hoses £90""" - getting on for £1k now!!

get head on, hoses on, thermostat housing is pitted and was leaking - £30 for second hand

oil change - synthetic oil + filter £50 - we are now approaching £1100 and im a mechanic getting trade prices and free labour!!

anti freeze £10, various sealers, fluids, petrol trying to find parts, fonecalls etc - and putting it al together in the freezing cold! but its all worthit - i just hope that the bottom end doesnt give up now! lol!

apologies for the essay!