Need advice... Keep and fix or SELL.

Quoting just to really stress this sentence. 98 times out of 100 it is best to go with OEM parts! Cost can hurt, but part reliability/longevity soothes that pain.

 

Stealerships near military bases love to overcharge. Get away from that area and find a dealership that doesn't take advantage of you.

 

Anyone who takes advantage or rips off a person in the military, should be ashamed of themselves and publicly called out on it!!

l have no use for people that are willing to do that to the people that are willing to put their lives on the line for everyone's freedom.

 

SMACK THAT HANDGUARD!!!

 

Wholeheartedly agree.

But FWIW, the price he was quoted is the going rate for that job. I cannot remember the labor number off the top of my head but it a lot of hours, they are basically doing head gaskets, the whole intake has to come off, part of the exhaust, timing cover etc.
They left my dashcam running and while it wasn't on while the truck was off, the time from pulling the truck into a bay to it being road tested was a couple/three days.
I am sure they have tricks to make the job go quicker because that is how flat rate techs make money.

I also do not doubt they did the job by the book, I could tell by looking at the engine that parts had been pulled off.

 

Which dealership did you go to in the Northern VA area... I am in the Norfolk and found the Priority dealers are fairly reputable. I believe there is one in the Springfield area.