1990 Head Gasket Repair

Alright, so i might be getting a 91 Toyota Pickup 4x4 with the 22RE engine in it, and it's a 5spd for pretty cheap ... Prob $100, it's in great shape the truck has only 140,000 miles on it and all that is known to be wrong with it , is that it needs a new headgasket, i found some for the truck for about $30-$50 shipped, but my question is, how difficult is it to replace? I called a few shops near by and they had told me that it would be about a $500 job, so im guessing it can't be that easy. But i would still like to do it myself and get the truck running both for the fact id only be paying $100 for it and the fact id like to learn to do it myself incase anything were to go wrong with the truck. The truck is worth way more then what im paying for it also , and im sure everyone that may be reading this is sorta like $100 truck, can't be that nice. But it really is, there are two rust areas that i will be fixing with new parts, or used parts. And, that is the driver side fender and the passenger door skin. Other then that there is just a few other spots of surface rust which i can repair on my own. Also, other then this question , is there any other problems that i should look into if i do indeed get this truck? And, is there any other ways to get cheap HP out of it but also being able to get a great MPG which im hoping i would be getting considering it's a 4cyl.

Thank you in advance for all the help

MARSAL

If that's the only thing wrong, that's not too bad a price, if it includes everything.

The big question is what caused the HG to blow, and did it cause any other damage (cracked heads are common if the HG isn't addressed timely).

Yeah, if you have some mechanical expertise and tools and time, you could do it yourself. There should be plenty of instructions online.

Yeah it's complete right down to the rims, and plus it has a Brush Guard =), I will find out what caused it and how long it has been that way? The truck has been sitting there for awhile im sure cus he hasn't really been doing much with any of his cars, he has a RX7 not sure of the year that im trying to get off him, and a Older Mazda Protigea *SP* that im hoping my be the AWD Edition, and a few other cars/Trucks that i dont know much about cus there alittle further back. But when i find out exaclty what went wrong i will post up and hopfully get a few more people adding there noledge.

Thanks again

MARSAL