http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/salisbury/cars-vans-utes/1998-alfa-romeo-gtv-coupe-engine-not-running/1028477754
Any ideas of how much this might cost to get going? Could the valves be damaged?
The short answer is yes if the belts snapped, jumped teeth when the engine was going, which if I read the for sale notice correctly seems to be the case, and hence the engine won't work. Given the prices being asked now for '98 GTV/6s a the asking price is just about right.
I am sure if you jump on line/talk to some wreckers one could find a good condition 2nd hand V6 but then there is also the cost of removal of the damaged engine and installation of the "new" engine. The alternative of course being to rebuild the existing one. The only problem there is that unless you strip it down you really won't know exactly what damage has been done and this will affect the rebuild price.
I may be incorrect but I am sure I have read that a full rebuild of a V6 will cost easily over $5 or $6K. If correct that is the likely price of the car in the market place. Hence the dilemma, the cost to fix could outweigh the end value. Sad really given how much these cars cost when new (around $80K) !!
I would find out from an Alfa Wrecker the price of a warranted low kilometre V-6 and have the water pump and belts changed while its out of the car and the installation cost, a rebuilt might cost too much by the time you change valve and guides and pistons and repair heads.
Wreckers may have a few V-6's around considering the low price of used 156's, a slight bump and they are written off, Colin.