red_johnny wrote:
Well before you close the books on it take a look. Might be something else.

bogus wrote:
head gasket is the logical problem... could also be intake.

CentralCoaster wrote:
Nevermind, none of that will cause white smoke. Now I see why you asked.

I think a head gasket job goes for about $50 + labor these days.

CSS996 wrote:
I know you are feeling beat down by your car. But just chill for a few days. Do you really HAVE to do the milling and the valves?

Just replacing the gaskets wouldn't be TOO bad.

Don't leave us, man. Just give yourself a little time to cool down.

DaleD wrote:
Quote:

CSS996 wrote:
I know you are feeling beat down by your car. But just chill for a few days. Do you really HAVE to do the milling and the valves?

Just replacing the gaskets wouldn't be TOO bad.

Don't leave us, man. Just give yourself a little time to cool down.

It depends on what the estimate looks like.
This isn't a standard shop, it's a guy that is a circle track racer who does repair/builds to pay for his addiction.

If I were to keep it, I'd want it done right.

To sell it, I'd assume a buyer would want it done right.

Yeah, I have a roof that leaks, and a wife that wants new windows to the tune of $8k. So, this comes at a bad time, and makes me think it may be a sign that my Corvette days are numbered.

Thanks for the good words though.

patgizz wrote:
FYI unless you have big huge windows or want something other than vinyl, it shouldnt be 8 grand unless you have 24 of them in the house. it's what i do and i can give you a quote if you want.

and i'll offer a hand or advice if you decide to take on the head gasket job.

i'd buy if i did not have a bunch of other projects

hell i'd even think of offering to do your windows in trade for the car if it were feasible on both sides.

DaleD wrote:
No rain in the forecast, go out to drive my Corvette to work. As I'm sitting in the garage warming it up, I notice lots of smoke. Lots of smoke. White smoke, continuous. Not just a puff on startup. I didn't have time to look at anything I had to get to work, where I am now.
I think I'm just going to have to park it. I can't afford head gaskets right now.

LT4BUD wrote:

Perhaps a stupid question...but is it coming out the exhaust pipe??? Everyone appears to have assumed this, but you don't really say...


BTW my 1989 got lost in a cloud of smoke from oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold...it indeed was continuous and catastrophic looking...almost blocked my vision at a stop sign....not a blown head gasket

Good luck...

patgizz wrote:
FYI unless you have big huge windows or want something other than vinyl, it shouldnt be 8 grand unless you have 24 of them in the house. it's what i do and i can give you a quote if you want.

and i'll offer a hand or advice if you decide to take on the head gasket job.

i'd buy if i did not have a bunch of other projects

hell i'd even think of offering to do your windows in trade for the car if it were feasible on both sides.

bogus wrote:
This is where older cars start to beat you down.

If it's paid for, keep it. I agree with CC, scuff the head/block and be done with it. At this mileage, short of doing valve seals, I wouldn't waste the $$.

I am also with 81c3, this is a DIY project. Just dedicate a weekend.

DaleD wrote:

It took me all weekend to do a tune up. And even that bit me in the ass. As Clint Eastwood said: "A man's got to know his limitations."

I can't even imagine me doing this in less than 3 weekends. My time is worth more than that. I don't want to be overly negative, but I never even imagined doing this type of repair when I bought the car. I've done what I think is within my ability.

JDSWHITE93 wrote:
I think you could do it as long as you realize that it will take twice as long as it should and will not go according to plan. Nothing I work on goes as planned. I have gotten used to it. My mother in law needed front brakes on her Neon a few months ago. Simple enough job right ? A caliper bolt broke off flush trying to take it out and the piston in one of the calipers cracked in half. A simple brake job involved two extra trips to the parts store and a helicoil kit before it was over. One of the first things I did to my 93 was a gear swap which went smoothly until the cover was seeping gear lube, I got the bright idea to retorque the bolts and stripped one, so I had to pull it out AGAIN and bust out the helicoil kit.

cuisinartvette wrote:
At least have the heads checked for cracks and sufaced/checked for warpage. Would be a bummer to do all that work only to do it over again. Hang in there.

Livin_the_dream wrote:
Dale
hope it all works out for you. Doing it right while a little more money adds to reliabilty. And who knows you might want to keep it.. oh and about all the offers check out the mid east section of this forum and you will see an exhaust install. Out here a lot of us get together, work talk cars, have pizza go for a drive when done! lots of fun and usually everybody learns. for that C5 we had like 15 people hanging out working.
http://www.corvette-guru.com/modules/ ... hp?topic_id=2970&forum=46