Merlin wrote:Wow that is a lot. A new engine may have worked out cheaper? Im doing my timing belt, water pump etc.. this weekend

Rich from PAW and I did work through the various options including a 'donor' head, recon engine etc. but by the time you've factored in labor, in particular, it seemed the best option was to carry out the works on the existing head.
The existing head & engine 'only' have 91K miles on them and they are in very good condition and there would be no guarantee that a donor head or engine would be in such good nick. A recon engine would have been a possibility but would have ended up being more expensive once the cost of swapping out the old and new units, ancillary parts, fluids etc. were factored in.
I could have paid PAW for doing the initial timing belt work, scrapped the Lude and brought another one for about the same amount of money, but it would not have been the same. The 'ol gal' is in good condition, looks good and drives v.well so I'm happy to have her back (even though the battery was flat Monday morning when I was about to go to work)...
Sometimes owning a Lude is a labor of love
Dobbs.
PS - good on you for doing your belts this weekend
