question(s) for the Mechanics

Good to see progress with the economy shut down over this virus.
Please keep the updates, (and pictures coming,) as I am a fan of these aerodynamic marvels.

 

If you're talking about the O rings on the rocker boxes, no, you do not have to take the heads off.

If you are tricky you could maybe just remove the middle rocker Box and leave the front and back in place and do the o rings right there on the vehicle.

But the overhead will have to be done.

 

It depends what repair you are having done.

If the head gasket is leaking then the head has to come off.

If you are talking about the rocker boxes leaking then the head does not have to come off.

The head is on top of the block and the rocker boxes are on top of the head. If you have Jake brakes they are on top of the rocker boxes and then the valve covers are on top of that.

 

If the head comes off, it'll need a new gasket.

 

Not maybe but definitely. You may have lifting brackets between the rocker boxes. Not by the book but just remove the required bolt. R&R that rocker box reinstalled with new o-rings and gaskets.
The o-rings in the other two boxes are probably about the same condition. Should be no problem to do all three and run the overhead in 8 hours. If they want to pull a cylinder head you should look for a different shop on that part in order to replace rocker shaft o-rings. Or is the head gasket leaking? If that is what it appears could it be the one in front and oil leaking back?

 

That cost doesn’t look too unreasonable and about on par with the normal avarage charge for that job but #### sure shows you how much you can keep in your pockets and pay yourself if you do it. Looks like you are supplying majority of the parts anyways.
That stuff can actually be fun to do if you got the time to not rush through it. The grand you are paying them to do it can buy you the tools you may need and you will have them for life.

 

The cost is decent. So as long as the shop is good and you can trust them than you are good for what you need to do in your lifestyle right now. A lot of times if the shop owner and his guys are good people and you build a friendship with them you will find the labor cost will no longer be a problem. I understand the the too busy for the time thing. That can cost some extra money in the short run sometimes. Hopefully the wife will let you “play” with the truck in the future once you get her to see the benefits of the savings.