Hi all,
After a couple scary incidents, I took my 95 Del Sol to a mechanic and they said the head gasket is blown, and that I should junk my car. However, this was my first car, so I have quite an attachment to it. That being said I'm looking into replacing the engine. It's an automatic transmission, and converting it is not an option right now.

I'm having a hard time finding a replacement D15b7 in the California Bay Area. So I have a couple question if anyone can help...

1. What sites or resources are good for finding an engine on short notice?
2. I found a D16y8 with Vtec on EngineWorld for about $1050 after taxes, will this engine work in my Del Sol without modification?

I would like to keep it all under $3k, but I might be able to stretch it to $5k. Any other help, suggestion, info, or recommendations would be much appreciated. I love my Del Sol!

Thank you!

 

You could repair your current engine for well under $3K.

For them to suggest scrapping it just because of a head gasket is asinine unless there's a lot of other problems with the car. Is it in bad condition?

 

They told me that it was going to cost more than the car was worth to repair it, so I should scrap it. But I figured if that was the case, it might be worth it to get a new engine anyway. Besides this, it's never given me problems before. The A/C doesn't work, but that's a non issue for me.

 

If your capable of doing the job yourself, you could buy a repair manual, tools and parts (the gasket and timing belt kit for peace of mind) for under $500 that would be including a head resurfacing aswell.
It's a pretty simple job on these cars.

 

You need to find a shop that doesn't have their head up their ***.

Either that or the car is in very rough condition and there's more wrong than just the head gasket.

 

Post some pictures of the engine bay. A head gasket is pretty cheap to do yourself but will cost a lot at a shop. I could bang it out over the weekend.

You're going to want to stay with a d15b7 though. The ecu had to match the engine and trans if you're automatic.

 

and let me guess, they offered to give you a few bucks for your car, you know because its in such rough shape. Tell them to kick rocks
Try finding a decent car for less than 3grand right now. good luck. Fix what you have. there are MANY MANY posts on the board on how to replace the headgasket/head and you can do it yourself for way less than 3grand. If my half blind old fat butt can do it, so can you you just need a fix it book and tools.
Also why are they saying it has a blown headgasket?