Shop recommendations for Cat work (Midwest/Great Lakes)

I used to like kingman in mishawaka, IN. When i lived nearby, reasonable rates, good work and theyd work weekends to keep uptime.

Heck, he even quoted me 14000 on rebuilding my 3406e when everyone else wanted 25k (the difference was mostly that he couldnt give the cat 3 year rebuild warranty and he wouldnt finance anything the way larger name brand shops could)

 

If you've blown the headgasket and motor hasn't been rebuilt before its extremely likely your liners have sunk into the block and will need the counter bores cut and shimmed. At that point the motor will be completely disassembled, so a full in-frame rebuild

 

I was just trying to help you know. Obviously an E model cat is well over 20 years old now so most have probably been rebuilt by now but there are a few low mileage trucks left out there as well. I'm not trying to be anti anyone, I know cats pretty well. Its a pretty common issue that if the head gasket blows its because liner protrusion isn't correct. Some get rebuilt without checking or correcting liner height. So I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the possibility of a deeper issue than just the headgasket. Again just trying to help.
I'm not aware of any other issues a cat is know for that cause headgasket failure. A low liner doesn't require a full in frame but its pretty dang close

 

Smooooooooth

 

I guess I don't understand what your issue is here?

 

As a Midwest shop owner of 20+ years, I pray that someone who "knows it all" like you never walks into my shop. It's a pleasure to converse with a customer who has some mechanical knowledge of the inner workings of his truck. It makes explaining a diagnosis much easier, but to rudely shut down a more than likely correct diagnosis of your engine issue is rude. You stated that the engine was rebuilt, but for you to be correct on shutting down the diagnosis you would have to know and state if the counter bores (well known 3406E/C15 issue) had been done at the time of the rebuild. P.S. I would cut only one counter bore if that's what the customer insisted on after being told that the only sense it makes to do so is that he could not come up with the money. P.S.S Have never cut just one in 20+ years. Good luck on your search for a shop.