MX83 Cressida dilemma

[ozaristov300]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question.

I have a 1990 Cressida GLX MX83 that I bought new. It has done 240,000km, never been in an accident and is in really nice condition, except it has just blown a head gasket. The good part is that it never overheated but the radiator cap must also have failed because it pressurised the cooling system and cracked the top radiator tank.

The good things about the car:
- completely roadworthy
- great body and paintwork (few blemishes)
- excellent interior
- near new tyres and brakes
- Koni suspension front & rear
- tow bar
- a/c just serviced & re-gassed
- fully maintained since new

The not so good things:
- Heater not working (flow valve in engine bay bypassed)
- Bonnet struts need re-gassing
- Fuel flap not sitting right
- One dodgy engine mount

So the question is, what do I do? I have been quoted ~$2,000 to fix the head gasket and radiator but the mechanic questioned if it was worth fixing. After I got over the indignation (how dare you suggest such a thing) I thought maybe I should seek another opinion.

1. What would the car be worth on the market if the headgasket was fixed?
2. What would the car be worth on the market with a blown headgasket?
3. What would the car be worth if I sold it for parts?
4. Is there a cheaper fix for the headgasket (eg engine transplant)

All opinions welcome. Thanks in advance.

[amichie]

You wont like this but answers below

1. $1500
2. $500
3.$1000
4. No.

[11turbo11]

Well I bought a 90 cressida grande with blown head gasket, body and interior vgc for the huge price of $400.

The guy I bought it off said he drove it round for about 3 months with BHG which was quite dum.
Anyway when i pulled the head off i seen that the engine was extremely corroded and lots of oil all over the joint and not worth wasting cash on.
Now my car has got 1JZ sitting in the bay.

Selling your car with BHG dont expect too much.
But easy way would be to find another 7M-GE and just swap enines, I think that should be cheaper than the 2G you got quoted.

[cambelt]

Depends on how much you like the car , 2K is nothing these days to spend on a car .
I have customers with MX83,s that would spend 5K if needed no problem .
I wouldnt swap a unknown motor in . not if the one you have serviced from new is still good ( except the head gasket )
Dave

[Adash=P]

I agree with Dave. Theres no point changing to an unknown 7M. If you do fix a BHG 7M, at least then you'll know it'll be reliable for some time.

[woggin]

if your willing to do most of the work yourself (i.e. removing head, bits n bobs, reinstalling head, re-timing) then the price of doing the hg will be a lot less (under $500, IF the head is in good condition and doesnt need to be fixed up, if its shot, go buy another 7m head, simple) if your not mechanically minded and dont want to put money into it, probably best to sell the car and buy something thats in you price range!

(bodge, but can be good)simple fix is to get the rad fixed up then drop in a bottle of chemi-weld (used for sealing headgaskets when they blow) and thatll hold, forever potentially!!

do some seaches on 'BHG' 'chemiweld' and 'diy bhg fix' the last one is a topic i had going wen i bought my supra, which has the motor 2 generations prior to yours (5m-ge)

hope that gives you a bit more insight to 7m's and headgasket fixes!

wog

[andrew_mx83]

fix it. if its a genuine 1 owner in good nick then it would be worth hanging onto and shouldnt give you too much grief for an older car if you fix the bhg properly/semi properly.
to do it properly you need to machine the block (full engine rebuild) or else you can machine the head, slip a gasket in,new head bolts and hope for the best (should get another couple of years at least out of it.
a good rebuilt 7m should be trouble free for a good few years

[hosking1991]

my head gasket fix cost me just under 400$ with a new timing belt and waterpump i would replace the belt if a head gasket change is in order

[Maverick]

I know whats wrong with it. it`s a 7m. save a little get a 1jz in it and be happy for ever.

[seamonsta]

I know whats wrong with it. it`s a 7m. save a little get a 1jz in it and be happy for ever.

Or go a 2JZ-GE conversion, still not cheap but not as pricy as a 1J and definately more reliable than the 7M and yes another and no engineering needed (more $$$) for 3Ltr to 3 Ltr swap.
Confused yet???

[takai]

To do a 2JZGE conversion on the cheap can be as little as $1000...

[uncivilised]

I agree with the 2JZGE. I had a soft spot for the 7MGE in my last car, now I converted to a 2JZGE, I will never look at a 7M again.

2JZGE is pretty cheap to purchase, more powerful and uses less fuel to boot.


<< dis-regard the "worships the 7M" moto on the side

[takai]

There are a few pains in the arse things with a 2JZ conversion, but overall its pretty damn good.

[cambelt]

Yr all excited 2J hippys , the 7M uses less fuel than a 2JZGE .
Dave

[takai]

Bah, the 2JZ uses less fuel than my 7M, and has 140rwkw