1987 Cherokee 4.0 Possible head gasket problem

[robhamster]

The car overheated again due to a loss of coolant. The caps on the reserve bottle seem to last a year before they start to leak and loose pressure and coolant. My son did not know this and continued to drive the car until it stalled. Now , there is coolant coming out of the front right part of the engine where the head and block meet.

Question: Will stopleak be a quick fix? How hard is it to change out the head gaskets? What else could have been harmed by this overheating episode I should worry about?

Thanks

 

[pkucan]

Best case, blown gasket.
Not so best case, cracked head.
Worst case, cracked block.

Not an easy job but not an impossible one for the home mechanic.

The head needs to be inspected for cracks and flatness.
A machine shop around here does it for $50. (includes pressure testing and milling if needed)

New gasket, new head bolts, torque wrench and torque pattern.