Cluster F*^k. Opinions?

[unterseeboot]

So as many who have read my previous threads know, i just recently bought my long awaited 97Ti. After having my ocd mechanic friend install tons of new parts, he gets to the engine bay....

Calls me this morning with the following bad news...

1. Oil in coolant, coolant in oil....head gasket most likely bad. Seems very minor, small amounts, and car runs and drives fine with good heat.

2. "It is leaking oil from every orifice of the motor."


Motor has 138k. Nobody has time to rebuild it, so i either get a new motor, or have the head gasket done, and live with the oil leaks until i can get some poor soul to change the gaskets. Mainly front seal and oil pan gasket. He said those look the worst.

A few years ago i would have just driven the car until it blew up, and then worried about it, but now i have a son, and my wife is doing her medical internships 5 hours away, so i will need the car to be dead nuts reliable. Suggestions???

A speedy google search located Bavarian Auto Recycling tested used and warrantied engines in the 1800 dollar range. What to do.....

[spidertri]

Is he absolutely certain it is the front seal and oil pan? The oil filter housing gasket is a super common leak that covers everything underneath and around it with oil.

Head gasket is your call, the fact that it is obviously weakened means it probably won't last too much longer.

Bav Auto Recycling has had some sketchy reviews in the past, you may want to look into them more closely if you're seriously considering and engine from them.

[teen ti]

sounds like a good excuse to do a 6cyl swap

[teetime4one]

LS1

[wv318ti]

Man I haven't posted on here forever.... I read the reviews on bavarian auto recycling and it made me wonder about them also. But I didn't have a choice at the time and orded an M44 off eBay. When I pulled the Valve Cover to check the timing it was spotless and clean, had fresh bolts in the oil pain and the engine was clean. It fired right up and ran very smooth.

[brandonm]

Originally Posted by wv318ti

Man I haven't posted on here forever.... I read the reviews on bavarian auto recycling and it made me wonder about them also. But I didn't have a choice at the time and orded an M44 off eBay. When I pulled the Valve Cover to check the timing it was spotless and clean, had fresh bolts in the oil pain and the engine was clean. It fired right up and ran very smooth.

sorry for bring it up again, but was it from bavarian auto? i need a m42 and im pretty sketched out

[wv318ti]

Yea, Bavarian Auto Recycling out of Cal. I'm not sure what they have on the M42 side but it never hurts to check.

[brandonm]

Originally Posted by wv318ti

Yea, Bavarian Auto Recycling out of Cal. I'm not sure what they have on the M42 side but it never hurts to check.

awesome thanks!