Check for external leaks first, radiator, hoses, thermostat housing. If it’s a dry you may have a issue with the head gasket. You can do a combustion gas leak test with a relatively cheap kit.

Check for external leaks first, radiator, hoses, thermostat housing. If it’s a dry you may have a issue with the head gasket. You can do a combustion gas leak test with a relatively cheap kit.

The visible rust looks minimal.

Yeah it sounds like a possible issue, but it’s hard to say without pictures. If you want you can ask to keep the old catalytic converter and sell it yourself, but I would just sell it to em.

Yeah, if the engine is misfiring. But if it runs smooth and only died when shifting it’s probably something else.

If you tightened the bolts it won’t come off. It will probably leak tho. You can buy a new thermostat gasket, it’s better than silicon or whatever else

I would check the fuel pressure, it sounds like a dying fuel pump

Yes you have about 5ish mm left