Overheat, now oil leak from head/gasket, Info needed.

[cb77]

Hi, i have the 2.5, had it for years and quite attached to it so will pursue repairing it even though its probably smarter to bin it.
Was running fine, first hot day and it rapidly overheated, water in the passenger footwell, seems the heater coil blocked up then split. Was warm and running fine yesterday. I bypassed the coil just to see this morning, engine cold, and now it has a misfire and oil leak, no coolant in the oil but seems like its venting through the coolant reservoir and im watching oil spurt out from all around the rear corner of the left side head. Would assume headgasket but been told they don't go on these engines apparently. So sounds like a cracked head? the leak looks like its all the way around a section of the edge of the head not just one singular point. Any advice here on confirmation on whats wrong would be appreciated.

Since it seems like the head has to come off, I have done most jobs on a car before so I should be able to attempt it myself. Is it much easier dropping the engine than doing it in place? Anything important I should know?

Thanks

[Coaster]

My 03 S had a cracked head. I don't believe head gasket failure is common at all on these but am not a sure of the 2.5. I paid a shop and they dropped it but they have the space and lifts to do that quickly.

[Newsguy]

Having done a bit of work on my two, I would definitely want the engine out. There isn’t a huge amount of room and I’m not sure you [B]could remove a head in place.
I no longer have a lift in the new place, but removal is really easy with one.

[cb77]

thought I got lucky, no cracks, no warping even. But the new head bolts wont torque past the initial stage, so need to repair the threads.