8.1L workhorse Engine - Cost to Repair Blown Headgasket

If you are going to go with a crate engine check the warranty. A friend of mine replaced his engine that way and within a month the engine crapped out. It was then he found out the warranty was on the engine only, not the labor, which is a big part of the total bill.

Replacing the engine, even with a short block, will probably hit your wallet for $10,000+.
Right now I would have the mechanic do a compression check of all cylinders to determine the overall health of your engine and then go from there.
I seem to remember that some of the GM engines had an issue with head bolts coming loose. I would guess that a mechanic could pull the bad head in one day and then give you a better idea of what it will take to fix things. I hope that you are at a truck shop instead of some RV repair shop with limited experience with major engine repairs.
I would estimate around $2000 if the head is OK and it is just a bad gasket.

lryrob9301 wrote:
I would guess,if everything went as planned.a new headgasket would be in a $2500 to $3000 range.

Going as planned depends on how long the head gasket was perforated. If it's been perforated for a while, a deck resurface is in order and quite possibly a new or reman head. If it was me, I'd replace the motor with say, a Jasper with a warranty and turn in the old one for a core. Replacing one is sometimes easier than repairing one in the engine bay....and you can buy a dressed (long block) ready to go with all accessories as well. Those are plug and play.

My thoughts.

I think calling several shops in the area and asking my be your best bet. Do let them know which side it is on, that will make a difference as far as accessories that may or may not need to be removed.

If it has a lot of miles on it and you intend on keeping it, inquire also about changing out to a crate engine with a warranty. That way you have both prices and can decide which option is best for you. You may be planning to keep your current unit and if so you want the best repair that lasts the longest for your money.

I would guess,if everything went as planned.a new headgasket would be in a $2500 to $3000 range.

Think I'd get a short block and have it dressed and be done with it.

Last vehicle I had with a blown head gasket, mechanics were big on replacing it with a crate engine. Their reasoning was the labor to tear the existing motor apart and, they could run into more damage as well as huge labor hours. Compared to pulling the old motor and installing the rebuilt crate motor.

This was a GM LT1 motor, in a sports car, so not apples to apples for your situation. I was able to trade the car in on a new sports car, didn't have to worry about the motor luckily.

Just something to investigate.