97 caravan changed catalytic convert...now

First, hello to everyone out there on the cyber solution trip...I too had to search for answers as well as saving a couple bucks by doing it yourself.

Back to my issue, changed catalytic converter to pass smog...which it did but now it cracked at both top and bottom welds causing anti-freeze to leak out..didn't have time to take it back to the shop to get it fixed but now I regret getting it back. Looks like my oil is starting to look milky which could indicate bad head gasket or something had to do with those welds breaking causing anti-freeze to leak. Do I get welds fixed change out oil and I hope that fixed it. Any suggestions???...Now go easy on me, I know that was so moronish but I'm like everyone else on this forum searching for answers!

Thanks!

What welds are you talking about?
Anyways the best solution is to junk the van and buy a brand new one.
Once you get water inside the engine, you can spend thousands of dollars supporting some drunk mechanic, and it will never be like new.

New van - $30 grand

New engine - $2 grand. Hummmmmmm

Course if the wife is on your case $30 grand is cheap medicine.

Bernard is right. Please clarify those first couple sentences. As for the milky oil - not good. As you said, the head gasket is probably blown. A compression check would verify. If you've been driving like that for a while it would be iffy if it's worth replacing the gasket and resurfacing the heads. Go check with an engine shop.

A brand new Chrysler T&C Grand can be bought for $21,000.
A rebuilt engine installed is almost $5000 on that 10 year old boat.
Not eveyone still lives in the depression, nor do they want a rusted hull splitting apart while doing 80 on the highway.

Yes, you can get a T&C for 21K if all you want is a steering wheel and a seat. Add the options everyone gets tax/license/and all that interest on that 5-6 year loan that all us pow folk have to get and you easily hit $30K.

Neighbor had a rebuilt engine installed in his 00 GV last year for $2400 with a 12 month warranty. OBTW. I wouldn't buy a new one. They're uglyer than sin compared to the 96-99s.

As for the rusted hulks. Yes, that is a problem for you folks back east. Come out to sunny SoCal. Rust is vertually non existant. One reason I tend to hang on to my autos a little longer. Cheers.

what, my 04 is ugly????

Don't worry. There's plenty of 96-99s out there you can trade for.