MH>I got the low down on my Monte Carlo today.  They had the entire engine apar   
   MH>and I went up to see it.  Two of the places where the antifreeze runs throug   
   MH>the head were actually rotted.  The aluminum was falling apart.  This was   
   MH>probably from the original repair / Dexcool, since there was some sealant in   
   MH>that area where the replaced gasket was.  It was questionable to put the new   
   MH>gasket on that area, since it was falling apart.  New heads are not cheap.   
   MH>was basically looking at $2500 to fix what I have / new heads, gaskets, fron   
   MH>cover gaskets, etc, throw in the towel with the car and sell it, or get a ne   
   MH>motor.   
      
   MH>I decided to go with a new Jasper motor witha 3 year / 100k warranty.  Total   
   MH>bill will be $4800 installed with everything.  Still much cheaper than a new   
   MH>car, but really not what I wanted to see or hear.  The mechanics spent an ho   
   MH>showing me everything and talking to be at their shop.   
      
   MH>I don't know if it is a good thing that I like my car so much, but I do hate   
   MH>new car payments more.  At least we now know the root cause of the gasket le   
   MH>- even though they said it is very rare for the heads to rot like that.  The   
   MH>said it could be from an electrical charge/short getting the antifreeze to e   
   MH>at the heads.  Very strange, but I did see it.  Just on one side on the moto   
   MH>too.  I didn't want to spent $1200 to just rig it and put the gasket on and   
   MH>hope for the best again knowing the heads have an issue.   
      
   MH>Looks like I will sort of have a new car soon in a round about way.   
      
   IF you really love the Car that is the way to go. First where are you   
   going to find something like a beloved Monte Carlo???   
      
   The mechanic is right about it possibibaly being an electrical.   
   When I was tracking down the similar Suburau problem(they have an ALL   
   (Aluminum Engine)I found out that NOT cleaning the battery posts often   
   enough can cause the Aluminum to be eaten away.   
   ---   
    þ SLMR 2.1a þ Typo Tom strikes agaoin   
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