Thanks for the advice guys. I may end up having them do the timing set also. Technically I can probably afford it as we’re making a bit of a profit selling our house, but we’re already planning on paying off other debt. Plus we need to save some of it for the next down payment. It really sucks moving from a house to an apartment with no garage but hopefully this is only for a year

It sure does man. I’ll bite the bullet this time, or bend over and take it, whatever is more appropriate. I’ve used this shop once before and they quoted 475 for the gasket while keeping my new water pump and reusing. 640 to add in a double roller timing set. I’ll likely just have them do it. Don’t want to dig in there again ever. The truck will probably rust out before the motor goes anyway.
Another shop quoted 625 for just the gasket so it seemed an easy choice!
maybe by next time I need to do anything I’ll meet a new friend with a shop and do it myself!

Here’s the victim. Got it for free from my dad (I still owe him 500) who bought it from his mechanic some years ago.

Thanks! Just moved to Portage, MI. I was never a dodge fan, but I used the truck a few times when my dad had it and I asked him to tell me before selling it and it worked out! It’s got heated leather seats and the works. Honestly I love it, just hard to spend money sometimes. I’ve done a bunch of PM on it in the last 1.5yrs