I've been reviving my Dad's 1983 Volvo 240DL Wagon, And encountered something I wasnt expecting...
It's blowing white smoke and quite a bit of water out of the tailpipe at an increasing rate, It's also very down on power and there is a bit milky oil under the filler cap on the valve cover.

All signs point blown gasket or cracked head or block... which pains me to even type.
But is there ANY possibility something else could be defective? Please say yes... Heh.

All I've done since it awoke from a 2 year slumber (ran in the driveway a few times during this) is: Replace leaking water pump, Replace 2x alternator/water pump belts, clean the maf, change the air filter.

Note: prior to the slumber it had a loping/rough idle that I couldn't trouble shoot, It randomly smoothed out, Would also die after a rev sometimes~It continues to do this.

Really getting tired of taking the top end of engines apart~This would be the third in a year on all our vehicles.

 

You're probably correct, but the gasket is cheap.
The hardest part is the weight of the head. Doable in several hours.
If you also have wet plugs and/or coolant coming out of the tank you have diagnosed correctly.
Ed

 

I'll check those tomorrow.
Am I going to need any specialty tools, And I just need the lone head gasket?
I've had to buy whole kits on the other 2 vehicles I've done.

 

I had to make a holder for the camshaft sprocket, a simple 'Y' shaped unit or flat stock with two stout bolts installed.
Intake and exhaust gaskets as well as valve cover gasket set along with the head gasket, found locally as well as forum sponsors. Felpro sells a complete 'head set' with everything.
I found intake gasket leaks several times on mine.
Get a book.
Head bolt torque- 15fp, 40fp, +90 deg. inside-out spiral.
Ed