Yah...it's amazing how I drove from the Arctic circle to Smithers w/ a blown headgasket on the dempster & cassiar hwy (which is now completely paved <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ).

Luckily I can borrow my gf's pathfinder for the summer & I can store my truck here at a friend's place in Smithers, during my work down south next 2 months & another work in Yukon until end of October.

So engine repair-wise, my current one also drinks oil (suspecting piston rings as I don't see blue/black smoke at start-up), on top of the new headgasket problem.

I did a compression test about 2 years ago (30000km ago) & got 220, 220, 220, 175. I believe those # are higher than stock b/c previous owner also did a head-replacement job at 244k (about 144000km ago).

Cost & time wise, I'm currently leaning against a rebuild b/c I don't actually have a "indoor" place & time & experience to properly do it (especially when winter comes around in November). If I can find a decent used engine down south (including states) , I am thinking of renting a uhaul trailer & towing the engine up north here to do a relatively straightforward weekend R&R swap.

Car-part.com seems to have a few options to choose from, but
I should give engnbldr a call & see what they have to offer too...