Since the Head has got to come off:

[Bluebelles Mom]

What other work (if any) would be recommended at that time? Valve job? Maybe new rings? Is there something else that would be more accessable that I should think about replacing as long as things are torn apart? Is this something that a pretty mechanically enept woman ought to attempt? Or should I think about asking for shop recommendations? And if so, what do you think a fair price would be for the work involved? I'll be honest, tearing an engine down scares me a little.

[splatterdog]

Are you absolutely sure the head gasket is bad? Did the rad blow from age or did a failed head gasket burst it? I would verify before pulling anything. If your nose is good you will smell exhaust odor in the rad. Myself, unless I have a bad cold, have always been just as accurate as a combustion leak tester.

A for sure bad head gasket will usually fountain the coolant out with the cap off and engine running right after starting it.

If it is bad, ask around for a good machine shop to inspect and resurface it. Valve seals at the least. Rings? You might as well pull the engine as the pan has to come off. Might as well do crankshaft bearings at this point.

Don't be too afraid. These are pretty simple machines and there's no shortage of advice here. And a FSM. There's more than a couple members in your region. Maybe work something out with one of them.

[Petros]

nothing to be afraid of at all. Just like playing with tinker toys when you were a child, but more fun (and much more messy).

Getting to the rings is a lot more work, best stay with the stuff in the head. If it needs a new timing belt, front seal or water pump these are made a bit easier when the head is off, but these can be done with the head on too, so do not do any of those unless you need it.

I would stay with improvements to the head only, possibly replace the exhaust valves with new ones (not too costly), and have the intake valves and seats all reground. Resurface the head, take about 0.010" off the head unless it is warped, than more if needed. New valve stem seals for sure if you are going to regrind the valves. If you want to go for performance up grades, you can polish the intake and exhaust ports (before the valve seats are reground), and put in a performance regrind cam shaft from Delta Camshafts of Tacoma WA. The cam shaft too can be swapped out at any time, you will just have it out for the valve job.

If you are really intimidated I invite you to drive it up to Arlington on a Sat in Feb and you can do it in my garage for free, it should make it if you keep coolant in it. Arlington is only about one and a half hours north of you. I'll be happy to help, or do the whole job for you if you want (but you will not learn anything that way). I have lots of tools for this job, and even a lot of the parts you will need. And if need be you can spend the night in our guest room if we do not get it running in one afternoon. If we are just doing the head gasket it should not take more than a 4 hours (with my help). If the head needs machining and a valve job, it will take longer, in that case it might be best to get a "core" head from the Pull-a-part for about $30, have it rebuilt, resurfaced, valve seats reground, new seals and exhaust valves installed, etc. And than we can just swap out the old one with the rebuilt one in less than 3 hours.

My week ends are pretty full, so we would have to plan ahead for that one, and I have to clear it with my wife too, just to make sure she does not have anything planned for that sat. that includes me.

[Bluebelles Mom]

Are you absolutely sure the head gasket is bad? Did the rad blow from age or did a failed head gasket burst it? I would verify before pulling anything. If your nose is good you will smell exhaust odor in the rad. Myself, unless I have a bad cold, have always been just as accurate as a combustion leak tester.

A for sure bad head gasket will usually fountain the coolant out with the cap off and engine running right after starting it.

If it is bad, ask around for a good machine shop to inspect and resurface it. Valve seals at the least. Rings? You might as well pull the engine as the pan has to come off. Might as well do crankshaft bearings at this point.

Don't be too afraid. These are pretty simple machines and there's no shortage of advice here. And a FSM. There's more than a couple members in your region. Maybe work something out with one of them.

I am not absolutely sure about anything when it comes to cars. But I have continous white smoke coming out of the exhaust. Apparently the needle sitting at the center of the guage effectively covering the marker means it is running a a bit hot. I haven't run the car long enough with the new radiator in to see if it's still losing coolant. And I am not sure what the exhaust should smell like. I do want to ensure that she is road worthy and reliable but I frankly do not have an unlimited budget for her. I am willing to do as much work as I can myself but I do not want to risk doing more harm then good.

And...if the entire engine gets pulled I would imagine that it's a great time to do the clutch and while I am at it I guess it is also a good time to cv joints/boots?????? YIKES. Somebody just shoot me.

Anyone in the NW willing to get greasy with me for $$$$????? Or...if you want to get it done quickly I can just stay out of the way and hand you tools. I will even buy the pizza and beer. Scheduling would depend on price.

[xirdneh]

Last year when following my friends tercel out of the parking garage i noticed white smoke (aka steam) coming out of his exhaust pipe. I mentioned it to him and he said his temp gage had been up and was adding a little water now and then. after two months it did not get any worse but he decided to pull the head. i helped out. we took the head to a machine shop and they vaccum tested each valve. all reached 25 or more. the shop guy said anything less than 20 was iffy so we were good to go. the test was free. we used a cheap valve spring compressor and replaced all of the valve stem guide seals. they came with the fel-pro head gasket kit that we got from rock auto for abt 53.00. the car has been running fine ever since.