I posted these ideas once b4 along with some other questions but these didnt get touched really so here goes again. There is an antifreeze leak from the front of the block and im getting a rough idle. Im thinking its the head gaskets. cars got 136000 miles so i would think this to be almost expected. also just last night after about ten to 15 mins at idle i heard a rattling sounded like it could be something loose in the exhaust but only persisted after an extended idling period. My questions are: is it the head gaskets and what is the average time needed to replace the gaskets (all original 305 TBI) as id really like to do it myself, and just for reference what would a mechanic charge time is not on my side being the college student that i am. I just changed cap and rotor but i still need to get on the plugs as i bought the car a few months ago. thanks to all in advance. help and insight provided by people on these boards is quite notable much appreciated. happy thanksgiving!!

 

Sounds like a head gasket, easiest thing to do would be take a compression check of all cylinders and that should give you the answer plain as day.

As far as changing yourself, the process is fairly simple to anybody with basic mechanical aptitude, but be warned before if you've never done it, find a back up car to drive awhile when you do this. It involves taking the literally everything off the top of the motor. Exhaust manifolds-which might be the worst part of all-especially since when the shop first put headers on my 305 yrs back busted 6 studs off in the block. For experienced guys it's a PITA reagardless, I dont work in a shop so I have no idea what it'll book out at rate wise, but imagine it might be a little pricey.