I have a '98 dodge neon r/t with a DOHC it has good compression in cylinders one and two cylinder three has no compression at all and cylinder four has about 3/4 compression. we think it is the head gasket but not sure. how hard is it going to be to just replace the head gasket and is that what i should try first?

Thanks.

Low compression could be a bad headgasket or bent valves. It isn't very difficult to change the HG, but if you haven't done it before...it may take you about a day or 2.

even if its bent valves i still have to take off the heads, so its worth looking into versus just putting a new engine in right?

Thanks agin

Yes, you would have to take the head off.