Does anyone know of a shop in the Cincinnati area that would rebuild a 06 5.7. All the shops I've talked to don't want to even touch it. They all want to put in a Jasper remanufactured engine. I believe it has a blown head gasket. It was getting oil in the water not water in the oil.

 

There are tests for a blown head gasket. A compression test can detect it and a test for products of combustion in the coolant can also show a blown head gasket. IF a head gasket is confirmed, the proper repair is to replace the head gasket, not rebuild the engine. Rebuilding the engine is a very expensive process compared to replacing a head gasket. There's no point in paying for more repairs than are necessary. And don't replace a head gasket based on a "belief". Run the proper tests to confirm the problem.

 

Plus the older 5.7 had a vary bad value seat dropping issue and that is an engine killer. The new ones that are remaned have that valve seat dropping issue resolved.

 

The shop said either cracked block or blown head gasket. Either way said park it and do not drive it. Then they started quoting Jasper prices. Since that diagnosis I dumped a bottle of Barr's head gasket sealer in it actually drove it for over a year without ever overheating it. Eventually it started leaking water through the water pump. That's why I'm asking if anyone knows of a shop around Cincinnati that would tear it down. I've got a issue of Hot Rod sitting here where they did a 5.7 rebuild so I think it can be done.

 

Most shops don't want to rebuild an engine because of the time involved. They would much rather swap out an engine because it's a more profitable use of their resources. Since they don't want to do it, they don't do it and if they aren't doing something, they won't be good at it, they won't be efficient at it, and if you were to insist on having them do it, you would wind up paying a lot of money for what might turn out to be a questionable result. On the other hand, a company that specializes in rebuilding engines and does it all day every day will have developed efficient processes and quality control to produce a better product at a better price. Whether you have somebody rebuild your engine, or install a factory rebuilt one, the engine is going to have to come out and be re-installed. So that part of the labor charge is going to be the same. The rebuilding part could either be done by specialists or by some guy who hasn't torn down an engine since shop class in high school. Which sounds better to you?

But again, before you spend big money on this project, make sure you run the proper diagnostics to find out exactly what is wrong and exactly what will be required.to fix it. If it's a bad water pump, don't rebuild the engine. If the head gasket is bad, replace the head gasket, don't rebuild the whole engine. If the valve seals are bad, you might need to rebuild the heads, but not the whole engine. They can pull the heads and send them out to a shop that specializes in rebuilding cylinder heads for a whole lot less money than rebuilding the whole engine. Yes, rebuilding the engine "can be done", but only go there if it's absolutely necessary. You might be better off selling the car and buying another one.