I got the low down on my Monte Carlo today.  They had the entire engine apart   
   and I went up to see it.  Two of the places where the antifreeze runs through   
   the head were actually rotted.  The aluminum was falling apart.  This was   
   probably from the original repair / Dexcool, since there was some sealant in   
   that area where the replaced gasket was.  It was questionable to put the new   
   gasket on that area, since it was falling apart.  New heads are not cheap.  I   
   was basically looking at $2500 to fix what I have / new heads, gaskets, front   
   cover gaskets, etc, throw in the towel with the car and sell it, or get a new   
   motor.     
      
   I decided to go with a new Jasper motor witha 3 year / 100k warranty.  Total   
   bill will be $4800 installed with everything.  Still much cheaper than a new   
   car, but really not what I wanted to see or hear.  The mechanics spent an hour   
   showing me everything and talking to be at their shop.     
      
   I don't know if it is a good thing that I like my car so much, but I do hate   
   new car payments more.  At least we now know the root cause of the gasket leak   
   - even though they said it is very rare for the heads to rot like that.  They   
   said it could be from an electrical charge/short getting the antifreeze to eat   
   at the heads.  Very strange, but I did see it.  Just on one side on the motor,   
   too.  I didn't want to spent $1200 to just rig it and put the gasket on and   
   hope for the best again knowing the heads have an issue.   
      
   Looks like I will sort of have a new car soon in a round about way.   
      
   - Mark   
        
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