Looking for some advice

I just signed up to this forum and am hoping to get some input on my current situation. I have a 92 Miata that I let my son drive last summer and use at school. Some time around October it wouldn't start and since he didn't have the money to get it fixed - it has been sitting. He got it to a shop last week and was told that the head gasket was blown and the only thing he could do is replace the engine. The guy told him he would look around and see if he could find an engine and also told him it would cost at least $1000. Last I hear he hadn't heard back from the mechanic.

So, I'm looking for opinions on the worthiness of this endeavor, what should I(we) evaluate to determine the worthiness of an engine replacement, what should we expect to pay for said replacement if we decide to do that, etc.

I'm looking for a Miata mentor... Or two

Thanks in advance.

If it was me I'd get a second opinion.

Where is the car located?

I'll give ya $500 for it.

But really though, someone will chime in.






$500!

92 miata-compatible engines are plentiful and affordable. If the mechanic's price includes the labor, then $1k is a reasonable deal. If that's for the engine-only, way overpriced. If the head gasket is blown, that's really not all that tough of a fix. I've never met a decent mechanic that would toss an engine just over a blown head gasket, especially on a little 4-banger.

I'm guessing you have no interest in doing the labor yourself?

Agree with POSRacing: get a second opinion. There are a number of things that can go wrong on a Miata engine, but few are catastrophic.

The mechanic's diagnoses is fishy to me. I'm pretty sure a Miata with a blown head gasket will usually still start (my MINI Cooper did), and it would not happen while the car is sitting. It would have happened while driving and and your son would have known something happened (like steam pouring out of the engine compartment). I would have him ask around for a mechanic that can be trusted and then have it towed over for a second opinion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Titus

The mechanic's diagnoses is fishy to me. I'm pretty sure a Miata with a blown head gasket will usually still start (my MINI Cooper did), and it would not happen while the car is sitting. It would have happened while driving and and your son would have known something happened (like steam pouring out of the engine compartment). I would have him ask around for a mechanic that can be trusted and then have it towed over for a second opinion.

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Thanks to all for input. Car is in east Dallas - I'll post result of 2nd opinion.

Oh noes! Hopefully it isn't at Miata Technologies! If so, get it out of there and call Track Dog Racing.

$1000 is not a crazy if you need the head rebuilt. A blown head gasket can cause over-heating which can warp the head. In that case a rebuilt head with labor could be costly. At this point it is only speculation. Having not seen the car, it's hard to provide any answers. Any costly car repair estimate is certainly worth a second opinion though and Track Dog Racing is in NE Dallas.

+1 on bailing on Miata Technologies. If you decide to dump the car, I may be interested in picking it up.

So the car won't start at all, no cranky, or cranky just no starty? Have you checked to see if the timing belt is still on it? To do this pull the oil fill cap and have someone crank it and look to see if the cam spins. I'd hate to see ya get the wool and eyes treatment at a shop.

Seriously... please tell us the car isn't at Miata Technologies....

No it is not at Miata Technologies