Head gaskets... make or break time

[bird]

I've had my "99 Disco II for about 4-5 years. it was beautiful, and still is, but i need to know if i should get over it. (and the 1st thing i did was replace the xenons and get a basket, so no jokes)
I don't drive it too often, no commute, mainly just drive around looking for parking in NYC and for work on shoot days.
well upon getting a bump from a "park by brail" driver i brought the car in to get the bumper fixed and asked that my, independent shop, do a quick diagnostic of the truck.
last in 2500 miles ago... no issue except need for pads soon and a small axle seal leak that is a quick fix.
NOW
I GET A QUOTE FOR THIS
1- 1 Head gasket set
parts $470.00 labor $1,100.00 tot: $1,570.00

2- 1 Oil pan gasket
parts $36.00 labor $150.00 tot $186.00

3- 1 Camshaft front seal
parts $22.00 labor $85.00 tot $107.00

4- 2 rebuilt heads
parts $400.00 [B]tot $400.00
[/B]
5- 2 Rear sway bar links
parts $215.00 labor $60.00 tot $275.00/

6- 1 Left rear axle seal
parts $1.50 labor $90.00 total $91.50

7- 1 U-joint
parts $110.00 labor $120.00 [B]total $230.00

8- 1 Installed front and rear brake pads
labor $170.00 total $170.00

9-1 Installed throttle body gasket kit l
labor $60.00 total $60.00

10-1 Installed right rear airspring
labor $85 tot $85.00

11- 1 Rear tailgate door latch
parts $180.00 tot $180.00

12-1 Rh rear door latch
parts $140.00 total $140.00

13- 3 Wiper blades
parts $55.00 total $55.00

parts $1,629.50
labor $1,920.00
subtotal $3,549.50
Tax: $315.16
Total: $3,864.66

i brought in my own brake pads, air-spring (arrnott lifetime warranty for those who are paying the 400 from shops) and the throttle body gasket kit. and i have already priced parts from resellers like rovers north and atlantic british saving me $500 off the head gasket set $159 (not $470), U-joint $34 (not $110), and sway bar links $90 for 2 (not $215).

BUT, on a '99, and the astronomical cost of the labor, is it worth keeping this truck, and are there things on here (besides wipers and door latches, i'm not an invalid) that i should consider doing myself. and does anyone know what might be "rebuilt heads" as a separate charge? the $400 (shouldn't that be part of the $1500 for the redoing of the head gaskets?)

I am close to losing the truck, being that it's value hovers around the $6-$8000, and i can't justify such a workload. that is if i can live without getting all of this taken care of immediately.
i am sure some of you have been faced with the dilemma, do you cut your loses, or pay out and drive it till it dies.
clayton

 

[joey]

My Rover almost never sees a mechanic.. but I will say it is always cheaper to do things yourself and I know I will never be without a Rover in my Driveway.

 

[bird]

i'm not sure

Joey,
unfortunately Driveways, and garages are one of those luxuries only dreamt about, and not so common in manhattan.
though, i have done a good amount of work myself in an upstate residence, there is a point when you've got to get the damn thing fixed, and get it back on the road, or move on when the cost outweighs the overdramatic unhealthy attachment to a particular truck.
my question had more to do with... if a shop gave such an estimate, are there things that might be easier to fix than others from the list.
a 99 disco II with 120,000, with this workload... what would one who has had experience with their rover's coming of this age do?
would you bother replacing the U-joint, or just replace the driveshaft, since the spacers etc have a tendency to go and smack up the transfer box.
what labor costs are not really worth the shop to do?
some helpful advice would be a good answer, as the reason i've come to trust your opinions

 

[joey]

Sorry, in that case this is my thought... if you want to keep it. I would replace the driveshaft if you can do the work yourself, since changing the U-joints may require a press that you will not have in the street to do the job.

I would do what I could where I could and only go to a mechanic for stuff that I knew I couldn't do.

1- 1 Head gasket set
parts $470.00 labor $1,100.00 tot: $1,570.00

(Cant do in the street)

2- 1 Oil pan gasket
parts $36.00 labor $150.00 tot $186.00

(very hard to do in the street -but how bad is it leaking?)

3- 1 Camshaft front seal
parts $22.00 labor $85.00 tot $107.00

(Could be done, but not fun - again how bad is it leaking?)

4- 2 rebuilt heads
parts $400.00 tot $400.00


(again can't do in the street)

5- 2 Rear sway bar links
parts $215.00 labor $60.00 tot $275.00/

(could be done in the street)

6- 1 Left rear axle seal
parts $1.50 labor $90.00 total $91.50

(hard to do in the street, but could be done)

7- 1 U-joint
parts $110.00 labor $120.00 total $230.00

(replace the driveshaft - might cost more, but can be done in the street)

8- 1 Installed front and rear brake pads
labor $170.00 total $170.00

(Easily done anywhere - I did a set in Kmart parking lot once, changed hubs once that way too)

9-1 Installed throttle body gasket kit l
labor $60.00 total $60.00

(Easily done anywhere)

10-1 Installed right rear airspring
labor $85 tot $85.00

(Can be done almost anywhere)

11- 1 Rear tailgate door latch
parts $180.00 tot $180.00

(could be done in the street)

12-1 Rh rear door latch
parts $140.00 total $140.00

(could be done in the street)

13- 3 Wiper blades
parts $55.00 total $55.00

(Get a set of D1 wiper arms and you will save a lot in blade replacements)