I gave $5000 for mine a couple of years ago fixed a lot of little things, upgraded front control arms track bar etc. and drove it for awhile, never could get it to run quite right so finally did a compression check and found a couple of cylinders a little on the low side, decided to put in a reman engine, i figured I bought this thing to drive not as an investment. So I don't feel bad in the least about spending the money, with that being said I think yours is definitely worth at least putting in a head gasket. You won't be out that much.