Hi guys, I have a Mk3 Golf 2.0L 5 speed manual, that I did my weekly oil and water check on, and found oil in the water. So its done a head gasket. I have also noticed now it has a Big end noise. So I went to my mates dad who used to build these engines over in South Africa, and he seems to think its not a big end but a water pump.

So today I will be pulling the belts off and starting it to see if the noise goes away. If it is a big end I don't have the facilities and time to be able to do and engine rebuild, as I need my car on a daily basis.

So instead of a two week job I was thinking of buying a second hand engine and just pulling the old one out and replacing it. I was wondering if anyone knows of any engines / wreckers, in the Gold Coast, Brisbane area. The other thing I was thinking was would there be a better engine I could replace it with ie. mk4 engine, or a better mk3 engine, keeping in mind I can't have anything turbo as I am on my "p's".

Thanks