So i just got a ton of work done on my 89Camaro all suspension done drove like new, i paid $850 for the car then a pretty penny to get it to drive like it does, now i wanted to put i new engine in eventually it has a 305 in currently, i wanted a 350, So I'm parked up at walmart talking to a friend i see its steaming I check under the hood and engine coolant tub is bubbling like crazy so i turn car off asap. got it towed to a mechanic im thinking something small. they tell me cracked head and i think i almost cried lol. so i guess what I'm sayin it HELP!!

WHAT should i do?

new engine? if so what should i go with! i bought the car prepared to splash money on her didn't expect an engine straight away tho!

Damo

 

Dont expect to get the same answer / opinion twice. Instead, base your decisions on your own individual needs and budget.

Good luck

 

you think i should get it looked at somewhere else too?

 

a second opinion never hurts but if it were me (not knowing your budget) I'd replace the head and keep trucking until i had the new motor built and turn key.. then swap that old 305 out and drop in my 383... lol had to add the 383..

 

well a new engine would cost more than the head right? they told me it would be easier to get a new engine which they have one but it would cost me $1100 for a 305

 

It sounds like you are at a shop that wants to sell you an engine.
If you decide to go that way, check the difference in price between a 305 and 350.

Do you have any tools? Replacing a head isn't that complicated. If you do it yourself, you can probably get all the parts involved for <$200.00.

A second openion is never a bad idea.

 

Hell if you were a little closer I'd let you have my 305s heads & help you install them super cheap.. Go buy some tools & an auto repair manual/ auto repair for dummies or something. If you're gonna have an older worn out car you need to expect to work on them (and need to know how) or be ready to spend a bunch of money paying someone else. I would personally rather put more money towards tools ('cause having a toll collection is always fun) and better parts & doing it myself then giving it away.

 

So the car overheated (thats my guess) and they said you have a cracked head? lol.

Wait till the car is cooled off. Take off the radiator cap. Slowly rev the engine up, the water level in the radiator should drop (keep your face away in case it does not). If it does not, they *may* be right. You can also let the engine warm up and try this but make sure the cap is off first or you could have a lot of pressure in there and taking the cap off if you're not experienced in doing that is unadvised.
If you let go of the throttle then the fluid will back up and likely overflow from the radiator cap hole but thats normal. Let the RPM's down slowly it will not do that (or very little) unless something is really wrong.

Ask the shop HOW they determined you have a cracked head. Without removing a cylinder head from the block, that is impossible to determine. Its most likely that it would be a blown/leaking head gasket and the right way for a shop to determine that would be to see if there is exhaust gas in the coolant and there is a tool to do just that. Its not a 100% foolproof, but that is the first thing that should be done. Let them tell you first how they came to the conclusion though, and post that here. It could be that your car was overfilled on coolant or it overheated a little (these things from the factory sometimes bubble and overflow the reservoir) so find out what is really going on before you throw in the towel and put in a new engine you may not need.

 

When you turn on the car does white smoke come billowing out of the tailpipes? Is the car really hard to start when cold? Any coolant dripping down from the weep hole of the water pump when its sitting?

Sounds like you may have a bad thermostat or your fan didnt come on. Also, a radiator that has failed or not holding pressure would cause your car to overheat if its been running for awhile.

Start with the basics if it mildly overheated. If you crack a head or ruin a head gasket you will notice smoke coming out the of the tailpipe or mystery coolant loss.

 

ah friend of mine got ah tpi 350 which was converted to ah carb .. with not carb tho ... for 200 runnin too !!!