Why so expensive to change a head gasket or intake? Is it difficult or just time consuming.?

Depends on the vehicle and experience of the person doing it . Some are just plain harder than others . The most tedious or slow part of either job is the time it takes to get the parts cleaned for re-installation .Why so expensive to change a head gasket or intake? Is it difficult or just time consuming.?It's not hard, just very time consuming.
Why so expensive to change a head gasket or intake? Is it difficult or just time consuming.?
Take what Garret said, and add to that, the resurfacing of the heads; which is always recommended as well as getting the head checked for cracks before the reinstall. This work is done at a machine shop only. Not all head bolts must be changed, only if they are damaged or the stretch type.



JJ
Why so expensive to change a head gasket or intake? Is it difficult or just time consuming.?
only time consuming.
Yes and the headbolts cannot be re-used. Need new ones
Head gaskets for a V8 cost like $80 for both, then like $40 for head bolts, then about 20 hours of work at $50/hr adds up. Im an automotive student and if i had an engine hoist, I could change a head gasket on my own. Its pretty simple if you know what tools you need.
It's both.
It is much more difficult and time consuming than it used to be. In older vehicles you open the hood and there the engine is. Today, especially mini vans, it takes three hours just to remove enough plumbing to expose the engine. Of course after the gasket has been replaced all the pipes, hoses and wires need to be re installed. This is almost a days labour more than it used to be.