Sounds like it started off as a lower intake gasket. Probably did get the head gaskets after the overheat.

Fix it cheaply (it's actually a pretty easy job to do), then dump it. Dex-Cool eats bearings. It will probably chew the cam bearings first, then twist the cam in half. The cam is just a tube, with bearings, and lobes pressed on.

Or, 3100's are pretty cheap in bone yards, not hard to swap one out.

I agree. I also 'washed' out the main bearings, so I had fluctuating oil pressure. Same thing happend to the kid next door. Now he has oil pressure that moves as much as his speedo but he has 235K on the V-8, so what do you do?

It's the head gasket, and the mechanic suspects some other damage. He agrees that it might make more financial sense to either find a swap engine or to junk the car and find something else.

I'm not sure if anyone here would know this, but any idea what a junk yard might offer for this car?

The car is gold/tan, with tan leather interior. Its engine was running fine before the breakdown, the auto tranny is in good shape. The interior is in great shape with no tears in the seat and no cracks in the dash. The exterior is in good shape; paint looks good, no major dents. There are a couple spots on the hood where the paint chipped and there is surface corrosion. These 2 or 3 spots are very tiny. The wheels are in good shape, with new tires on the front. The engine had 142K on it when the gasket blew.

$50 - $100.

Probably closer to $50 if the engine doesn't run.

Legions right...............................Junkyards are in business to sell not buy. Most perceive that they are doing you a favor just to take it off of your hands.....if you tow/drive it to their lot.

I junked a 92' Prelude a few weeks back, in worse shape than your olds and I got $350 for it. I suppose the Honda may have a few more expensive parts bolted to it, but it was a complete train wreck.

Good to know, guys, thanks. I have emailed a few local junkyards, hoping someone might make me a reasonable offer. The car is at my GF's father's shop, and I should be able to get by with just the Porsche assuming that the weather continues to get warmer, so there is no SERIOUS rush to sell/buy another...

Most imports will bring a little more at the junk yard. Domestics are a dime a dozen.

I kinda figured, in fact it was a Honda only yard, and they came and picked it up.