Hello.
i'm new here, didn't realise there was a magna club! cool...
i've got a 93 TR magna, 4 cylinder 2.6 litre, done 215,000 kms and have had it for 2 years.
I've just blown either a head gasket or the head itself...not sure yet but annoying nonetheless. when i bought the car, the RACV found a blown head and the guy i bought it off (he's a mechanic) fixed it for me. The car has been pretty ok since.
so the dilemma is: the car has had 2 heads blown now, is it worth getting this second one fixed (the last 2 heads might go anytime soon maybe?) or should i just go all out and get a reconditioned engine? i'm keeping the car long term.

if i get a reconditioned engine, what price should i be looking at (fully installed)?
does anyone know any good places in the south-east of melbourne where i could get a reconditioned engine installed?

cheers

are u sure the head or gasket is gone, u should carry out the required tests first to determine if it is the head, i.e comp test. leak down test, cooling system pressure test etc

my dad and girlfriends dad are pretty sure it's the head.
the car has been drinking up coolant like theres no tomorrow, the oil looks milky, water and smoke (probably steam) is coming out the exhaust pipe, it has very little power and revs really low when its stationery and stalls.
i think i read somewhere on these forums that if you start your car with the radiator cap off and the coolant just splurts up everywhere, its a sure sign that the head is gone? not sure.
anyway, i guess the dilemma is do i take the car straight to the mechanic (and then possibly to a reco place) or take it straight to the reco place to get a new engine because i think the engine is pretty stuffed

Get it checked by a mechanic.
If ya go for a recon, add on some extras.
They usually want to also replace the radiator, hoses and water pump, maybe even the oil pump.
If it's a manual get a new clutch fitted as there would be no labour costs involved once the motors out.
All up cost could be 2.5 grand

Get it checked by a mechanic.
If ya go for a recon, add on some extras.
They usually want to also replace the radiator, hoses and water pump, maybe even the oil pump.
If it's a manual get a new clutch fitted as there would be no labour costs involved once the motors out.
All up cost could be 2.5 grand
if just the head has to be done, then there is no need to remove the engine

It cost me 2 grand (incl labour) when I stuck a reco in my TR a couple of years ago. (Blown head gasket on Boxing Day at 2am!)
I got the work done by some tiny Mitsu place in Mordialloc.

i'd sell up; the 3rd gens are pretty brilliant cars; our e2nd gens are getting troublesome; 5k for manual 3rd gen that no one think's is fast...

not worth 2K on a 2nd gen 2 pot unless you got a serious attachment to it.....otherwise you will never get your money back, either trade up to a nice 3rd gen as GTRICE stated, or if you liek the 2nd gens enough, go a 2nd gen verada