Big Problems

Vehicle:
1997 Chevy Silverado

Symptoms:
Overheating - Loss of coolant - Studders at startup - Chocolate Milkshake for oil!

I know what it most likely is. But how much am I looking at spending?

Vehicle:
1997 Chevy Silverado

Symptoms:
Overheating - Loss of coolant - Studders at startup - Chocolate Milkshake for oil!

I know what it most likely is. But how much am I looking at spending?

and what might that be?

just being fescious. you have coolant leaking into oil. either bad gasket or crack in the engine head, or crack in the engine block.

how much? depends. DIY vs dealer? DIY you are looking at solid day work if you know what you doing, cost of head gasket, intake manifold gasket, exhaust gaskets, and whatever else you'll find broke while doing all this. or break yourself.

now, considering it's overheating, you, probabaly, have head gasket blown both ways - exhaust leaking into coolant, thus overheating, and coolant leaking into oil. thus milkshake.

oh, and btw - can't drive like this. you'll seize engine in no time.:runaround:

Definately not a DIY'er. Have a trustworthy mechanic I can use. Just wanted to know what I could possibly be looking at in cost.

Considering age and mileage (250k+) should I consider junking it? It's a good truck (was), but it's becoming a money pit.

well, you will have little hope selling it.
i'll be bashed for this, but i have done it 3 times and every time very succesfully: while you have engine head off, drop oil pan and remove pistons. then replace piston rings, tierod bearings, hone cylinder walls, and give engine head to machine. they will plane the mating surface, re-set valves, replace burnt ones if any, replace valve stem seals. pretty much, it's a new engine after that.
otherwise, it'll cost you grossly to do it at a shop. at 250K miles, and as many of them sold for cheap now, cost of repair might be same or more than the truck is worth.
'ts your call, bud. if it drives, donate it to charity and write off on taxes. as you might fork for this repair, just to have trannie go boink next week.

Or spring for a replacement crate motor??

Or spring for a replacement crate motor??

I vote for a replacement engine...doesn't have to be new...maybe one just like yours but with a lot less miles.