I finally got my '79 GT running after a huge, year-and-a-half delay. Sadly, the exhaust is steaming and the freshly-changed oil is now a foamy grayish-brown. The exhaust smells kinda like coolant. This ain't good.

A little background: I bought the car two years ago after it had blown a headgasket on the side of the road, for $200. Had the head checked and planed down, new headgasket and put it all back together, but couldn't get it to run. Life happened in the meanwhile. Over the last two winters, there was no fluid in the block to crack it...I'm guessing it wasn't just the headgasket that went when I bought it.

I'm taking the head off and running it out to the machinist that planed it if I can't find any cracks in it myself. The block seemed fine back in Summer '05.

I'm wondering where I should go from here. I have about $400 into this thing. I'd like to find a good used engine, but I'm wondering if it's even worth it. The interior is in good shape except for the driver's seat, which is covered, it has no front grill, body is straight and rust-free but the paint sucks. It seems to run well other than the steaming, but at 263,xxx miles, lord only knows what else could be wrong with it. It was a daily driver, but that was two years ago.

I can pick up a tested, used engine with new seals and timing belt for $500 from a reputable parts place in Ballard, WA for $500. So that would be $900 into this thing...assuming I don't have to put anything into bakes or suspension. Could I find a cheaper used engine in Seattle? Thanks!



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*Jakob Lunden* 1984 242 DL, transitioning from beater to classic, 1979 242 GT improving with age, 1968 Saab 96, impulse purchase