Need advice on a sad SHO that just threw up everywhere

[SonicRiot]

So I took my SHO for a short drive yesterday. It only gets driven about 2 miles every week for the past 3 weeks because it is awaiting the installation of a CKPs. I just have not had time to do it and I have a vehicle that I am borrowing from my sister. So yeah, I drove it yesterday. For 5 minutes. And then the car started BILLOWING white smoke from under it's hood. So I pulled into my driveway (kind of praying for an out of control engine fire so I could just collect insurance on the damn thing... I kid, I kid!!!!). and there is coolant

-pouring-

from the rear of the engine. My headgasket is SHOT.


So the list is:

-Needs FULL 60K and valve lash adjustment (60K NEVER been done properly and the car has 98.5K miles)
-CKPs
-Rod bearings
-new brake lines
-all new bushings, and I mean ALL
-Control arms/ball joints
-rear brakes
-reseal and possibly rebuild transmission
-rear main seal
-ABS doesn't work
-and last but not least, a HEADGASKET!!!!!




So what should I do?? I have a difficult time spending money on parts for this car because the car needs paint and body work and it is FAR from good looking on the outside. ****, the bumpers are falling off and the doors are rusting!!!! Then again, I love the charactersitics of the car and the dirt cheap insurance and the everyday drivable performance. Plus, I can't afford a car payment. I just can't decide what the **** to do with this particular car. Is it worth fixing all of this (I do the work myself)"? I can't sell the car because it's too cheap and I can't afford anything I would enjoy. But then again, this car isn't worth squat, has almost 100K on it, and is a far cry my dream car. I just keep saying "why spend all of this money on this car?" :cry:

So, thanks for any advice.

BTW, can the headgasket be done IN the car or should I start dropping the subframe?


Thanks in advance.

 

[sideSHO]

Man,that thing has been beat on badly if it's in that shape.
With all that needs replaced,I'd say let her go.
For that kind of money to rebuild,you could have a good daily driver.
Good luck.

 

[Slo-Sho]

You sure it isn't that heater hose that crimps onto the metal pipe? It's uncommon for a HG to blow around the outside perimeter, instead they usually blow between cylinders.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You sure it isn't that heater hose that crimps onto the metal pipe? It's uncommon for a HG to blow around the outside perimeter, instead they usually blow between cylinders.

Ditto. Even if you had an unlikely catastrophic HG failure, the coolant would still only have a tiny little area from which to escape, and wouldn't appear to be "pouring" out. Top off the coolant, start the motor, let it get up to temp, and climb around with a flashlight until you 100% i.d. the source of the leak.

 

[shojuan]

You sure it isn't that heater hose that crimps onto the metal pipe? It's uncommon for a HG to blow around the outside perimeter, instead they usually blow between cylinders.

Tritto. If those lower heater hoses haven't been replaced by now then they are past due for a failure. The rubber sections are short. A foot of 5/8" bulk heater hose is more than enough hose to do both heater pipes. You may as well get some upper heater hoses while you are at it too (if not now then they will be loose so they will be easier to remove next time if you don't wait too long).

You will need to undo the lower heater hoses from the engine and remove the hose/metal pipe assemblies. Then you cut off the factory crimp and replace the hose with an appropriate lengthed piece of bulk hose and you clamp it on with your everyday stainless hose clamps. Then reinstall.

The white smoke would be from the coolant travelling down the outside of the metal heater pipe and then dribbling onto the hot rear catalytic converter.

Now you know that rubber hoses are NOT lifetime parts. However it's actually quite amazing how long the stock motorcraft rubber hoses can last (longer than any sane thinker would be comfortable leaving them installed).

 

[SonicRiot]

There is water dripping from just below the head... but I'll check it out anyway. I'm way too frustrated to look at it right now. Blast the previous owners for NEVER doing a 60K or flushing the coolant!!!

Man, I wish Chevy's Impala SS S/C came in a stick!!! Those things are dirt cheap!