I was rolling down the autobahn early Friday morning, just cruising at 80-85 mph. Everything was going alright, then I noticed the heater got suddenly cold.

Scheise!

Pulled over, shut it off. Popped the hood, all the coolant was in the overflow, nothing in the radiator. I threw some fluids in the radiator, fired it back up, and it sputtered on 2 cyl, then 3 cyl, finally roaring to 4 cyl at about 3,000 rpm. I looked back and saw the huge plume of sickly sweet smoke from the tailpipe, and shut it back down.

Called ADAC, got towed to the nearest base with an auto craft shop, and got a rental for the rest of the trip.

This will be my third head gasket. I never even overheated the engine, either. Now I must decide what to do... Should I order another gasket, put the engine back together, and roll again, or should I put my feelers out for a wrecked Hilux on the cheap with a 2LT for a diesel swap? I'd still replace the head gasket, run the engine a bit, film the engine running strong, then sell it in the Stars and Stripes classifieds.

Now, for the questions...

I have an "EB'd" 22RE. Will the 2LT give me the same smile when hauling down the autobahn at 100+ mph, or do I need to find a different engine?

If I need a different engine, which one would you go with, and why (remember, I am on a TIGHT budget here, thus the 2LT thoughts)?

"A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living." - John F. Kennedy

Proud owner of an 88 Montero (with a blown engine).