If you're a car guy, you get hit on for fixing somebodys beater occasionally. I found a fix for the common ironblock/aluminum head gasket leak that really impressed me. Bars Leak "Block Seal & Head Gasket Repair", $12. It's an 18 step process and takes an afternoon of messing around, but, the stuff really works.
Sounds like 16 steps too many. I've used Solder Seal products (Block Saver) to fix a cracked block and a questionable head gasket on an old truck. Bob
Easier,,,,,,Say no. Somebody else's beater= somebody else's problem. Family,hot,cute,woke up with her and its the only way she'll leave, excepted.