I’ve just worked out that the head gasket is blown on my project EG civic. I’ve been working towards getting it roadworthy so I can legally drive it while I save up for an engine swap and so I can mod it while I drive it. However I’m already $3.4K (AUD) deep into the project, I thought I was getting close and I don’t know if I should sink more money and work into the tired D15B7 with 320,000kms just for roadworthy. The body on the car is really clean (well, no rust).

I bought this car for $700 after someone abandoned it, the seller told me it was just the fuel pump (it wasn’t). I suspect he knew the head gasket was blown. The project did cost me a lot more because after I did the timing belt, I forgot to torque the lug nuts and the wheel came off while driving and I crashed it. Hence lots of suspension, steering, and panel repairs, that’s on me though. The image is the list of all of the work I have done so far and a cost breakdown.

So here’s the three options I’ve worked out:  
1) Fix the D series. I have a friend with a machined head for this engine he will give me for $150, I just need the gasket ($150 ish) and to do all the work. I’m concerned that the bottom might be damaged because I have no idea how long it has been driven  with coolant in the oil, and I’m not sure if I want to risk that much time/money into the rest of the engine considering it is still leaking and burning oil and still needs some more new parts to get working A1. (Distributer, gaskets, potentially rear main seal)

2) Do the K swap. It will probably take me a year or so to have the money for all the parts for a K24A2 swap, so I could fix the body of the car and some other things while I save up but it would be a long journey and it will sit for a long time. This was the original goal but I wanted to save up while I could drive it.

3) Do a B swap instead. B series engines are hard to find here in Tasmania and I didn’t want to B swap it because parts are scarce. However, I could B swap it much sooner because it is a much easier and cheaper job once I find a good engine, and I might have just as much fun with it afterwards.

What are your thoughts? Cheers

What should I do now? (Shitbox rant)