Head Gasket: Odds of cracked head?

[surechap]

I have been driving my car for a few months trying to figure out why it's misfiring intermittently; only on idle or on startup. I finally gave up troubleshooting and decided that if the car was gonna break, I'll wait for sure sign before I decide to fix it. One morning the car misfires and blows white smoke out of the tail pipe. I check the oil, it's milky white.

Blown head gasket: Confirmed.

What are the odds of a crack head? Trying to figure out if it's still worth the repair I'll be doing this myself.

Parts so far including a rebuilt cooling system (excluding major parts already replaced): $650 not including tax/shipping.

If head is cracked: ~$1150 not including tax/shipping.

Still debating if it's worth it.

[BlackBMWs]

Originally Posted by surechap

I have been driving my car for a few months trying to figure out why it's misfiring intermittently; only on idle or on startup. I finally gave up troubleshooting and decided that if the car was gonna break, I'll wait for sure sign before I decide to fix it. One morning the car misfires and blows white smoke out of the tail pipe. I check the oil, it's milky white.

Blown head gasket: Confirmed.

What are the odds of a crack head? Trying to figure out if it's still worth the repair I'll be doing this myself.

Parts so far including a rebuilt cooling system (excluding major parts already replaced): $650 not including tax/shipping.

If head is cracked: ~$1150 not including tax/shipping.

Still debating if it's worth it.

M42 or M44? Where in the Central Valley are you? Cheers...

[surechap]

Originally Posted by BlackBMWs

M42 or M44? Where in the Central Valley are you? Cheers...

It's an M44 97, only 120,000 miles was really looking forward to taking it to 300,000.

[BlackBMWs]

Originally Posted by surechap

It's an M44 97, only 120,000 miles was really looking forward to taking it to 300,000.

Ya, I have a M42 running in my 95 Active with just under 400k miles and still running strong.

[Disast3r_Ti]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to find a donor?

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by Disast3r_Ti

Wouldn't it be cheaper to find a donor?

Yes. I think so. that's what I did. I have 85k miles now on a used engine I bought for $400 and $200 to ship.

Head gasket repair involves
1. New cylinder head gasket kit
2. Labor to remove cylinder head
3. Send head to machine shop (need a good and reliable shop)
Leak/pressure test, if good proceed to next
Machine surface
replace valve seals
valve/seat grind
rebuild cooling system
pressure test radiator
4. Labor to assemble
5. Lucky? it runs
6. Unlucky, still overheat

[BlackBMWs]

I did the same for both of my 97 Sports. $300 for one out of a rolled TI and a second for $99 at the yards. Both local pickup.