My friend's thermostat stopped working and the engine was over heating and it blew the head gasket. when i took a look at it, it had exaust smoke coming from the driver side part of the headgasket. when it heats up it will start blowing oil out of it. i didn't notice the exhust smoke if there was any. I dont know if the oil is getting through the piston into the combustion chamber. but i think it is. should i get a used motor from and auto wrecker (100+) or should i get the head gasket and get it machined? (300+)
It's also an automatic transmission so would it be harder to pull it all out than a 5spd?

for the replacement of the head gasket, I have a few questions...

what happens with the machining process? can the bolts to come off on the head?
how much time would be expected to finnish the job, if i get it machined?

I tried searching but i only cam up with a few search results that only said "it takes a day or a weekend at most" and the prices and what needs to be done if i do.

I would just get the motor out of the bone yard. All that hassel to get a 2.2 out, send it to a machine shop after disassembling it and draining all the fluids, wait for it to get done, pay more for it then a "new to you" motor, pay for a new headgasket, re-do the head gasket... (and yes, I know the headgasket replacement on a "duece duece" takes about 3 hours tops, done it a few times. It's still a messy pain in the ass)

Always helps to have spare parts laying around anyway with the old motor...

To be honest, I have never done an automatic, but I am sure it cannot be very difficult if you have done a 5 spd. Good luck...




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