<rickylowary@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f17f364a-349d-41f6-b2e7-e0ef932cf112@r4g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
> ahh geez...it's about time for a timing belt. just been a broke
> college kid and don't really have the money to shell out for it.
> actually have thought about getting another engine because the head
> gasket has gone twice in it and had a new head put it. not sure what
> types of engines i can swap. my dad keeps after me about this guy who
> is selling an engine from a 95 civic si vtec, but i don't think you
> can put a vtec in a car that didn't have vtec to begin with can you?
>

Ooh - the head gasket history only opens up another, even worse possibility.
Not sure of the exact head gasket design, but it is possible the gasket has
blown out between two cylinders. That will show up as uneven cranking (er,
errr, er, errr or other pattern depending on which pair of cylinders is
involved.) You can do a quickie test by removing the radiator cap - engine
cold! - and starting the engine. Pinch closed the hose to the reservoir and
put the palm of your hand over the radiator cap opening. If you feel
steadily rising pressure or pulsations the head gasket, or something equally
troublesome, is bad.

I hate to say it but I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling about this. Dunno
about swapping different engine models - there are people here more up on
that than I am.

Mike