How much does fixing a head gasket increase the value of a car?

Question

I see a lot of cars on craigslist for sale for cheap that have a blown head gasket. I'm thinking that learning how to replace a head gasket, fixing those cars, and selling them could turn out to be profitable. How much money can I make on a car if I learn how to do that?

Answer 1

It all depends on the car. See how much you can get the car for the compare it against another car that doesn't have a head gasket problem.

They are pretty pricey to fix but I think most of that cost is in labor. Also when there is head gasket problems there is usually other problems that come along with it.

Answer 2

A blown head gasket decreases the value of the car.

A not blown head gasket puts the car at market value.

Answer 3

If I had $10 for every person that said all there car needed was a head gasket, I'd be a rich man!

Likely there is more to do than just the gasket, but if you can purchase the vehicle for a good price and the car can be sold, you can make a fair profit. The trick is being able to sit on the car (and your investment) for as long as it takes to get back your money, some times you end up just breaking even and sometimes you lose money when you figure in your time.