I am pretty sure i have a blown gasket. A coolant leak is apparent. My 95 is blowing white smoke and im just waiting on the mechanic to tell me its the gasket. When it is, how much specific range do you think it would cost to fix? Or would i be better off buying a new engine and having someone install it. Which is cheaper or the better choice. I would go with vq35 if i swapped it. But i dont know how much one of those would cost plus labor. So gasket seems better sorta. Just want your opinions because i want to keep my max alive, and not search for a new car. If anyone has any idea on specific price ranges for both, it will all be considered. thanks!

 

The gasket replacement would be the cheapest. Part of the decision includes how good a shape the existing engine is in. If it is in poor shape, definitely swap the engine. To swap in a VQ35, whoever does it better be very familiar with doing this as it is not a plug'n'play swap, there are other things to consider, such as wire harneses, ecu, emissions. That would make this swap much more expensive then swapping a 95 engine.

 

Since its a 95, and you want to keep the max alive, it really depends on how much you can get a used engine installed for. $1k with engine? How much is the head gasket job? Are you trying for a temp fix or a long term fix?

 

what shape is the rest of the car in? does it need and other big or many small items? rust? ect. what shape is the tranny in how many miles on it now? if everything else is good enough to warrant the work for new engine start here:

http://www.partshotlines.com/?phl=se...ch_id=26384424


i couldnt find anything closer to you

 

I have yet to have a need to do any major engine work on my Max but it seems to me that if the leak can be narrowed down to the front(left) head, then the repair shouldn't be too bad if it's the rear(right) head then that seems like a much more difficult repair.
If the gasket does end up being replaced then it would add peace of mind if you could determine why it went in the first place. Overheating, and it's many causes, is usually the first suspect of a blown HG.

 

The repair is bad anyhow you look at it. If you have to remove the heads, you have to go through the timing chain area to get them off front or back.

 

if another engine only cost like 500 bucks, then jus replace engine. My friend replaced HG only to find out later the cranksshaft was damaged too. Jus swap engines and be done wit it.

there is also a thread on here about someone who did HG himeself and later on engine stopped working too.

Save the headache and jus swap engine.

 

My quote for the headgasket os around $1000 to fix. said my friend who is trying to get me a good deal. You think i can find a vq30 or even a vq35 for around 500 and get it in for only 500, making it around the same price with possibly better resuts?



Bump

 

Yes i def. want to keep it alive. Its abuot a thousand to fix it. I woud like a long term fix because i love my car. It running perfectly would be my dream.

 

The rest of the car is beautiful. No rust anywhere on it. a little dent or two from previous owner and him trying to fix it. The engine runs fine, no knocking ot anything. it has never overheated or gotten even close, it just blows white smoke. The tranny is getting rougher because the car has 195k on it. But thats not slowing it down. I will look into a new engine.

 

GL with the situation. I think he meant just the motor for $500, im sure it would cost alot and take alot of time for someone to install a new motor, even stock let alone 3.5.

 

is head gasket a common issue with these motors at all?

 

I had my heads shaved and the everything from the block up rebuilt when i first bought this max. Still blew again; killed it the second time. Spent about 1k having the heads redone. Said SCREW THAT and bought a new engine the second time around. Found an engine with 20k miles on it for $280 from a guy who was well off and bought the wrong engine for his nissan van. Me and a buddy put it in for just under $300 parts and discounted labor.

 

you say it never overheats, etc. if your head isn't warped/cracked, you might just need a new gasket without the need to machine the head. did your "friend" tell you about that?

p.s. get it fix before you do any serious damage that would require the $1k repair.