Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
Factors Favoring a Head Gasket Repair:
* Mint Condition & Convertible: If the car is truly in excellent condition aside from the blown head gasket, the body and convertible top are valuable assets. Replacing the engine entirely would diminish this value.
* Potential Cost Savings: A head gasket repair is significantly cheaper than a full engine replacement or swap. However, this varies greatly depending on labor costs in your area and whether you do the work yourself.
* Maintain Original Engine: Keeping the original engine maintains some originality for collectors (if that is relevant to you).
Factors Favoring Engine Replacement/Swap:
* High Mileage: High mileage suggests other potential issues lurking, such as wear and tear on other components. A new or used engine might be a more reliable long-term solution.
* V6 Swap Complexity & Cost: Swapping to a V6 is a massive undertaking. It involves significant modifications, custom fabrication, possibly new wiring harnesses, and potentially even chassis reinforcement. The cost would likely far exceed the value of the car.
* Unexpected Problems: During a head gasket repair, you might discover other problems requiring additional repairs, making the total cost closer to or exceeding an engine replacement.
What You Should Do:
1. Get a Professional Diagnosis: Take your Sunbird to a reputable mechanic for a proper diagnosis. They can confirm it's a blown head gasket and assess the extent of the damage. They can also provide an accurate estimate for the repair.
2. Obtain Repair Quotes: Get multiple quotes for the head gasket repair from different mechanics.
3. Assess the Overall Value: Consider the current market value of your Sunbird. Weigh the cost of the head gasket repair (or engine replacement) against this value. Is it worth the investment?
4. Engine Replacement Considerations (if needed): If the mechanic finds significant additional damage, an engine replacement might be more cost-effective in the long run. However, a V6 swap is almost certainly not economically viable for a Sunbird. Finding a used 2.0L engine is a much more reasonable option.
5. Make Your Decision: Based on the diagnosis, quotes, and your assessment of the car's value, decide whether to repair the head gasket, replace the engine with a used 2.0L, or sell the car as-is.
In short: Unless other major engine problems are uncovered, head gasket repair is likely the most sensible option for a car in otherwise excellent condition. A V6 swap is generally impractical and extremely expensive for this vehicle. A used 2.0L engine replacement is a reasonable alternative only if the head gasket repair reveals significant additional damage.
