5sfe water in engine :(

Its around 30-60.00 to get a good head resurfaced to accept a new head gasket. The 5sfe Machinist book indicates you should replace the headbolts (1 use bolts).

As far as the timing, a shop will quote you around 3 hours labor + Parts.

Head gasket will be around 4-7 hours labor + parts.

All together you can be looking at over $1000.00 for a timing job and head gasket

Thats the easiest way to do it because the seal is really in there and if you set it down flat you can drive it in easier. It can be done with it on the car, but its much harder to work all hunched over trying to drive a seal on it. Just spend a couple extra bucks and get the oil pan seal too. That way you can inspect the oil pan / rods / mains for wear

The oil pan is really simple. The hardest part on the whole job is removing the exhaust. You really only have to unbolt it where it mounts to the exhaust manifold and the bracket that holds the hanger in place on the subframe. Once disconnected, the exhaust will move enough to slide the pan past it.

like I said you can probably get away without removing the oil pump entirely, but it will be more difficult. Make sure that you grease the inside of the seal before installing it though!

look around where the exhaust gasket goes for signs of burnt fuel (black). If you see black around where the gasket is its more than likely leaking.

You are correct when you are asking about the timing. Get it TDC and pull the upper cover off and check to make sure the Camshaft is still aligned with TDC. If the bottom is TDC, the top should be too.

That noise around 2000 rpm upon acceleration / deceleration could very well be either an exhaust leak or a loose exhaust shield. I would check to make sure all shields are tight (Cat shield, muffler shield, exhaust manifold shield). At 2k rpm it could be vibrating at a certain frequency to make the shields vibrate and make your noise.

You can rent a coolant pressure tester from Autozone and Advanced Auto for fairly cheap.

Or you can buy one online. Really simple to use, the kit will come with various adapters and a Gauge with a needle looking deal off the end of it. You find the cap that fits inside the radiator, twist it and lock it. Set the gauge to 15psi and slide the gauge / needle assembly into the adapter you locked onto the radiator. Hook your compressor up to the gauge and let it pressurize :thumbsup:

Where is this video you are speaking of in your previous post??

** Turns Amplifier / subwoofer on **

lol. I was just curious... I saw that post and was like ???? huh , no vid