Head Gaskets/Swap?

[all_in]

Im the lucky owner of a 95 MTX, about 105k on it, recent 60k service done. About a year ago I was leaking coolant, brought it a local mechanic that does custom work for my friend to find a coolant piece/hose was cracked and needed to be replaced. Obsolete part, unable to find it anywhere for 2 months. The shop attempted to machine a connecter piece which I think failed, anyways my car overheated severely a week or so later, the same mechanic told me my head gasket was probally blown and the price of labor involved was going to be very high, so I towed the car to my brothers workshop and its sat since. The exterior/interior are in very nice shape and it has new tires.

I miss driving this beast and am looking to get it drivable soon. I was contacting shops in my area about getting the head gasket fixed, affirming the cost of about $1500-2000 and up. Is a job like this something I should trust to a mechanic with no special experience with the Yamaha but with good reputation in town? Then there is still that odd coolant part...

I can't tell if my heads are even warped, and my more mechanically inclined friend wont/cant help since its so different than his toyotas.

The idea of a engine swap didnt occur to me until I found NESHO.com, which is about 60 miles from me. I am concerned about putting an older/higher mileadge engine in, but this guy seems like a SHO specialist.

Sorry for the rambles, at work writing between calls, and thanks for any input

 

[K-Dawg]

What coolant part cracked? If its a hose, it can be fixed for less than a dollar with standard heater hose.

You need to determine for certain that a head gasket is blown and go from there. If you can't do the work yourself, your best bet is probably to take the car to NESHO since he's so close.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Yup, contact Kirk @ NESHO. See banner ad above. You're close enough. He can pickup and deliver the car as well.

- James

 

[Brett]

I've overheated my car a couple times, these head gaskets are the easiest things to blow, id try to confirm it indeed needs a head gasket before anything.