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I am seeing dodge vans for sale cheap with blown head gaskets-with, mechanic said it would cost over a $1000 to fix-repair it, the gasket it self cost under $20, how does a $20 part cost $1000 to put it on?

The labor will cost you the most. This is pretty much disassembling the engine. This guy on youtube has a multiplart video on how to do it. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOizKbb