Hey

I need honest helpful advice. I will just fill you in on my predicament, at the moment I drive a kr verada (150k on the clock), unfortunately the automatic transmission is worn (and I don't really like autos) and the engine is running ruff as! It misses under load randomly(sounds like my car is trying 2 make popcorn), like one of the leads had fallen off, (its not the leads or the dizzy because I have a changed them with no improvement. On top of this I think the head gaskets are going/gone. Its drinking water and when its hot steam comes out of the engine, (where the oil is ment to be ) e.g. you take the oil cap off and a puff of steam comes out. Hmmmm not good. On top of this the engine has started to make a very loud tapping/clicking sound, which seems to be coming from under the rocker cover, but its hard to tell. As the sound comes and goes.

I have 2k to spend to try to get my wheels out of the grave.

What should I do?

I have another car that I can use for spares, (man v6 tr wagon, my old car that was declared a stat rite-off)

I would love 2 make my car quicker as well, in the process.---- I so Need more go -- my car atm is like a slug !

Any suggestions welcome, and please, if possible, let me know ruffley how much I would be looking at spending on your suggestion. (very important, as I have a budget to stick to )

Thanks- Tommo

fix the head - get your car back runningand safety certed under $2000

sell of the good bits of the write off

put that to another magna +trade of current car :cool:

lol might be struggling for this but it'll be alotttttttttt quicker. DOHC motor, mate it to your manual gbox you already have.

Except you need custom extractors, dohc ecu, wiring done, heavy duty clutch... haha nah get another sohc, i have a spare one for sale lol.

For $2000 You'll be lucky for a rebiuld in a SOHC.
DOHC Motor Maybe $800ish
Extractors - $1000
You have $200 to get a few power steering hoses made up, service the engine, and get it all working :redface:
probably better off to buy a 2nd hand SOHC mate and drop that right in

Unless you're doing it yourself, a top end rebuild alone for a four cylinder Astron II cost me $1600 (done by mechanic) I blew a head gasket and cracked the head, it was a nightmare. You might want to set aside a bit more to play around with.

Bring both over, for well under 2k [poss under 1k if your parts are good on the doner car] (as you have all the parts) I can get the good motor from your TS with the Manual and put it all in the rada.

First of all however, for a V6 to be that sick after only 150k's is very unusual, there can be many reasons for your symptoms which are fairly easy to fix without the stress of replacing engines.

i had shocking problems when i gfirst bought my Magna V6. i spent $1000 with a GOOD mechanic, and he straightened that engine out like you wouldnt believe. Its done 200,000, and feels brand new still. It goes pretty hard for such an old car, and is quicker than most V6's to boot