FIRST CAR - L67 VT Calais Heads Dead :(

[CJ_Calais]

Hey after scrolling through numerous forums for what to watch out for, i purchased my first car!
I bought a 98 VT Supercharged L67 Calais for $3000 with 220k on the clock. The car itself is in pretty top condition so I was stoked with the price.
I was aware that id need to spend a bit of money on it mechanically as it wasnt running super smooth, and the seller wasnt straight up with some things.
The bloke told me that it had a slight leak in the radiator from when it was recently fitted (new). Anyway, after driving it home, about 20km it ran smooth as but spat out a few litres of water out of the overflow. I quickley researched this where i found that the l67's get air in the radiator hoses and are a pain to bleed. Anyway i spent the next 3 days bleeding and driving her around, until i got all the air out. After about 10 days i found water in the oil.............The little prick must have found it, changed the oil, then flogged it to me, karma will get him eventually.
I researched this in tears, where i found out its common to be a LIM (lower intake manifold) gasket and it wasnt much a of a drama to replace myself. The calais had a few little problems like the diff had a slight whine, the A/C needed regassing and all these minor things, so i dropped it in to our well known mechanic. He stripped it down and did a CO2 test where he found the head gasket had blown and he said thats no worries he would replace it cheaper for us. Anyway he said he better take the heads down to get the properly checked for cracks and warps. Anyway this arvo the call came in the that heads are totally F*****. So consequently as I havent even got my P's yet, I have bugger all money left and i cant afford the $3000 rebuild (consists of brand new heads and everything else). Ive looked at a few l67 wrecks and motors on gumtree. Theres one removed already for $1800 which looks like a moneypit waiting to happen. Theres also a licensed VS statesman with 250k on the clock which is a little risky for a futher $2350, just thought i could sell the licensed body or parts for a bit back. Anyway I dont really want to put in a new motor as its gona cost bulk for the labour costs. I have been quoted about $3000 for a full rebuild with new heads, as second hand l67 heads are too rare to get hold of, but I straight out cant afford $3000 so im left with nothing to do, I dont really wana sell my baby as its real good nick everywhere else! Maybe putting a standard 6 in it for the time being or even an aussie 5L if im lucky- what costs am i looking at? and what are my other options? or maybe if someone could fix my motor cheaper to help a bloke out haha?
Cheers

 

[Caprice5L]

Id prob just put a standard V6 in. Try your local auctions for a damaged VT-VX, my mate has bought a few from local auctions here for under $1k each. Then change it over yourself.

 

[HoldenOn]

If I were you I would put a cover over the car and let it sit for a whole, and just keep your ears to the ground and wait for a decent motor to come up. In the mean time save like crazy, so that if you can't find a motor, you might have saved the 3 grand for the rebuild. Good luck with it, it's risky buying cars these days, every prick is out to screw you over. Especially if your a young bloke.

 

[Sabbath']

It's a 14 year old car with high k's.
The diff needs rebuilding
The AC needs regassing

And you've had it 5 minutes...how can you be attached to it?

Sell it for scrap and move on.

 

[Mick1988]

They are cast iron heads, they can't be THAT bad. Alloy heads crack and warp all the time but it takes a lot to damage cast iron. I guarantee that if you put a valve regrind kit through the car you would solve your water leak and have a drivable car. Of course a mechanic is going to tell you the heads are ####ed he sees a young guy with a Commodore and you've probably just told him you got duped by the seller of the car he's bound to think he can take you for a ride.

 

[HoldenOn]

He has a good point. Get a second opinion, or even a third.

 

[CJ_Calais]

yeh thats what he sort of said that the cast irons are far stronger and can be rewelded, but its a hassle and the price would be a tad cheaper but not enough to justify getting new ones. also hes a family mechanic and weve known him for years, so he wouldnt do a dirty on us anyday, dad brings through all the farm utes and vehicles. he said the specialist heads dude said that the head wall (the bit inbetween each barrel) had cracked on two of them, one on each head. anyway, my legend of a dad has forked out the 3k for me as he was owing me some money for working on the farm, and ill go and work off some of it in the holidays.
hopefully the seller will serve a long life filled with karma.
atleast i know that ill have the reliability of an almost brand new motor, for no cost to me

 

[Mick1988]

Skids on his front lawn with your newly running car..... Also I just realized you're in Perth if you're ever after bits and pieces mate let me know I have a ton of VT parts.

 

[uniacidz]

Yeh mate get a second or third opinion.

My so called family mechanic tried ####ing me over, still in shock that he would try to pull something on me.

Unless it is a trusted friend, do not think this mechanic is on your side.

 

[CJ_Calais]

yeh sweet as cheers mick, you dont by anychance have a suitable diff, and a front left hand exterior door handle in raven mica?
hopefully hes on my side, who knows, everyones out to make a bit of extra money at others loss.
As i said dads paid for it and my baby should be back at home by next friday running smooth as!
if the job isnt done properly, thats when ill start complaining about the cost