I found a winter beater

[LeakySeals]

Early 2k Northstar V8's are well known for stripping headbolts/block threads. Norm Huhn is getting rich selling the kits to rebuild them. What happens is the aluminum block gets hot on a given day, the soft aluminum can't hold the head bolt, strips its way loose and poof a sudden catastrophic head gasket failure. I would pass.

 

[14Accent]

By 2003 the head bolts had been enlarged and most of the head gasket problems we're solved. Severe overheating will still pop them, like most cars.

This will be my 5th N* car, and I have yet to have a major issue with any of them. I drive them like they're meant to be driven, hard.