need a new head?

1991 Mazba B2200 with 220k miles

Well I thought I just needed a head gasket (tons of oil in the radiator, wasn't overheating, oil itself looked fine). So I took my truck in to a friend who works on cars but doesn't know much about Mazda's. He pulled off the head (said the gasket itself looked pretty darn intact) and took it into a machine shop. Apparently it needs a ton of work and I'm not sure if I might be better off getting a different one out of a scrap yard, take that into the machine shop and try my luck? Or just getting a whole new one? He says the whole deal is going to cost me like $1000 to re-do the old one and $1200 or so to put in a new one (this is for pulling the old one off, the machine shop fees, gaskets, putting it back together, etc.).

I don't know what to do and could use some advice. I'm not a mechanic so please keep it non-technical. This seems like way too much money to spend. I just want to keep this awesome truck on the road and would hate to have it die just over this. I just had a new timing belt put on it a few months ago and the body and interior are in great shape so I'd love to keep it on the road.

$1000 which includes his labor is not a bad price.

Junkyard engines are likely to also be high mileage.

Look on ebay for a rebuilt head, $350.00 400.00 $1000.00 is a complete engine rebuild.

Heres a site that might help.

Also $1000.00 is way too much for the top-end. Highway robbery.

Misunderstood, thought that was the price including new rings, etc.

My machine work on my cylinder head was about $260 last October. That did not include new lifters.

Ha ha you said new head !!