Well turns out my water pump failure and subsequent brief overheat was enough to do my 200k mile motor in. I am curious what anyone has for advice out there. I'm located in Iowa and having a fun time trying to locate a motor. I'd either be interested in finding a reasonably priced replacement or someone interested in saving this little thing. I refuse to scrap it since they're so hard to find, but IMO this is the nicest one I've seen in my area.

How bad was the damage? replacing a head gasket on a 4cyl isn't a huge affair. Clearwater still makes a non jetvalve head last I heard. Others who have the 4cyl trucks will be more knowledgeable on this. Rebuilt engines and JY replacements are really a gamble because you don't know if your getting a good one or a timebomb.

IIRC, if you only blew a head gasket, it's relatively easier to fix (easier than finding the procedure/illustrations & rebuilding the carb, doing an engine rebuild, etc.).

Among others here I may not recall, I believe Les has done the head gasket/head r&r and has taken copious pictures and fully documented the process.

I already had a gentleman look at it who has a part time shop. He said from the looks/sounds of it I burned up either/or/both main bearing/cam bearing. Regardless I suppose a headgasket would be no biggy. Thats what I'm curious about. Everyone thats looked at it has the same general concensus. I just don't have time to do it myself anymore. He said he'd put in a new motor for $300 for me to help out, so is that not the good route to go w/ finding a replacement? He guestimated a rebuild of this motor out to be around $2000. (It is a 200k mile motor)

My rebuild of the turbo motor was $600+, which included installing a new CW head. I was lucky and the cylinders and all were is good shape. Only needed to polish things up and put in new rings and bearings. Did have to do a BS elim. (Included in the price.)

$2000 sounds like a lot to me, unless it is R&R and cushioned for the most work that might possible be needed.

Others who know more will chime in.

He did say $2000 was complete rebuild in the worst case scenario deal, but he didn't really want to just go in to fix one thing w/ that mileage. The $300 engine I found only has 91k miles on it, and they said it runs great. So think I'm gonna grab it and spend the $300 for this guy to put it in. $600 for it to be back on the road again is probably a reasonable cost!

$600 seams really cheap. I am assuming you are quoting parts only - I'm sure the other guy is including labor and some machining. This is where I am at:

Clearwater Head: $460 delivered with upper end Felpro gaskets & ARP studs.
Lower Gaskets: Felpro - $54
Cam Timing Kit: $47
Balance Shaft Timing Kit: $70
Freeze Plugs: $12
Clevite Oil Pump: $60
Oil Pump Pick-up: $15

Purchased so far: $718

I am converting a Starion to a Gen 1 so Oil Pump replace may be optional - but usually a good idea during a rebuild.

I have not opened my donor yet so have not bought bearings or rings - depends on if machine work is required for sizing.

Last I checked: Block Machining (if needed) runs about $400
Block cook only: $60
Crank (if needed) machining and balance: $250
Crank polish and clean: $80
Rings only: $65
Rings & H.U. Pistons (if boring block or OE are damaged): $165
Piston to Rod install: $50
Rod Bearings: $25
Main Bearings: $35
misc: $250

I can easily see $2000 for a quality rebuild and a bargain on assembly labor - I do my own - I'm cheap but for sure not free.

[quote$600 seams really cheap. I am assuming you are quoting parts only - I'm sure the other guy is including labor and some machining. This is where I am at:[/quote]

Exactly, this was all of the work done. No time for this atm. We have a house we're trying to finish remodeling so we can resume a normal life, so can issues are definately something I just can't deal with right now. If a guy were to cut ties on the vehicle what would be a realistic asking price look like some something on the lines of an ebay front? I'd really much RATHER see it go to one of you guys that love these things and would get it back to the condition it should be in, rather than a measly daily driver for myself.

My $600 was basicly minimal engine work (no machining needed), and bearings, and assembly to include the separately purchased Clearwater Head. Again, that was the number for the shop. Also not included were things like oil and water pumps, other gaskets for the intake/exhaust, etc., etc.

If the $2000 was all-in, as EyeOn replied, that buys a lot of work and additional parts.

$300 for a 91k miles said-to-be-running-well motor sounds pretty tempting. $600 all-in and a days work to get you back on the road isn't a bad route.