My son is contemplating purchase of a 1989 Ford Mustang LX with a L4-140 2.3L SOHC engine as his first car. The owner, over the past year, replaced the water-pump, thermostat, hoses, belts and had a new core put in the radiator. The engine now has a blown head gasket, so I am thinking this could be a good project for he and I to work on together. I have reasonably good mechanical skills and have the tools we'll need, I think.
My questions are:
Is this a project we can do by ourselves in our home's garage, or does it require specific tools and equipment that we're not likely to have?
My assumption is that when we remove the head, we should take it to a head-shop for checking, have it resurfaced, and if necessary, have the valves ground, etc. Are there any other things we should be aware of?
What should we expect to pay for new gasket kits, etc. from an after-market parts store like Checker, AutoZone, etc.? Is there a good place to get these materials by mail-order or online source that has really good prices?
I've also heard that these engines are prone to blowing head gaskets. Is that true? If so, what is the cause, and fix for this?
Is there anything else we should check while into this project? Like, change engine oil and filter in case any coolant got into the crankcase when the gasket blew, or any other things not mentioned above?
Thanks for any advice and suggestions you can provide.
Lee