Cracked head...aka brick wall...

Okay...back in action after the long radio silence. Got an email from a guys down under in Ausy'land and the discussion reminded me I hadn't updated the blog for awhile. To make a long sordid story much shorter...sent the head to a machine shop in Portland to get resurfaced and they called me right back with the lovely news that the head had a freeze crack. Further, to put a new/rebuilt head on a block with near a quarter million miles on it...well, let's just say we're not going there. Sooo...back to square one with my original questions on the TN post...I've decided to plunk in a JDM. Found one in the Bay area with 50K miles on it for $520 delivered. Still a bit nervous about buying it site unseen. Have also found one locally in Portland for $500 with 130K miles on it with confirmed compression at 190 across all cylinders. Thoughts anyone?
In the meantime, I've borrowed an engine picker from a buddy and we are getting ready to hoist the ol' POS out. Stay tuned...

The crack is circled in the pic...runs vertically from the two coolant jacket chambers...