Shaz
Not a motor out job to do head gasket (as per knowledgeable MR2 ppl), so that's good.  Still a big job if that is the problem tho. 

Of course ANY job can be done with the engine in car. You just may find at times the time you spend dicking around making special tools etc to reach hard to get bolts. It can at times prove easier to remove the motor. Not as bad for NA motors often worse for turbo motors.

I once saw a bloke rebiuld an engine in the engine bay of an AW. He took piece by piece off until he had the engine block and crank bolted to the gearbox. Then did the inverse. He was at a mates driveway with no engine hoist. That engine is still running 8 years later

Gatesys SW20
Only 2k for a head rebuild i think she meant.

Actually reading the post again properly for its content, I think its not even a  head rebuild, it sounds like his changing head gaskets and just getting the head crack tested at an engine shop. If the head needs a rebuild it will be even more.  Glad I don't live in New Castle... Hope his changing the timing belt, water pump and all in that price at least.

That's right, not rebuild motor.  Check head for cracks, etc, & do the thing that needs to be done.  hone?? or something like that I think he said.  He mentioned gaskets & kits & other bits that will go in as well.  Timing belt was done at 199000 in Oct 2012.  New clutch November last year.  The have in the past overquoted & I have been pleasantly surprised when I've gone to pay. 
Timing belt job for example, they told me $800 - $850.  They charged me $560. 

Shaz
"I love my little blue 2, she is worth it.  I love my little blue 2, she is worth it".
 

 
video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oug3zySe1Y

Shaz
That's right, not rebuild motor.  Check head for cracks, etc, & do the thing that needs to be done.  hone?? or something like that I think he said.  He mentioned gaskets & kits & other bits that will go in as well.  Timing belt was done at 199000 in Oct 2012.  New clutch November last year.  The have in the past overquoted & I have been pleasantly surprised when I've gone to pay. 
Timing belt job for example, they told me $800 - $850.  They charged me $560. 

Yeah maybe 2k is the worste case senario then, if they need to shave the head cus its warped or do valve work etc...
I thought you were getting a full rebuild done for 2k so the clutch if easy to change while its all out but this will just be pulling the head off and putting a new gasket on (plus all the other gaskets they will change as part of pulling it apart). I don't thik your cylinder head will have any issues, its not like you were driving it with the temps boiling. You have done a lot of km's however so they might end up changing valve springs or maybe even reseat them depending on what needs doing. Should be all good if its any more then 2k that will be a bit of a worry though.

Dudeman

Shaz
"I love my little blue 2, she is worth it.  I love my little blue 2, she is worth it".
 

 
video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oug3zySe1Y

lol, thanks Dudeman.
 

track_mr2
Yeah maybe 2k is the worst case senario then, if they need to shave the head cus its warped or do valve work etc...

Yes that's probably the case.
I would expect the head would need to be crack tested, and the gasket surface dressed. 
Also new valve guides and seals, and valves re-seated.
A couple of years ago I had all of that done on a 3sge head and it cost over $600 for machine shop work alone.
 
Also, as well as head work the radiator and coolant system would have to be looked to find out why this happened.
 

Work on a head usually costs in the region of $600 for a machine shop.
 
+1 for all being done in engine bay. I tore down my engine myself in the bay since I had no engine crane to work with, with the intention of it being just a head gasket. This was also my first engine teardown outside of a lawn mower.
 
Turned out the whole engine needed refresh so I ended up just putting a trolley jack underneath the block, detached the block from the transmission then had my wife lower the trolley jack whilst I was still in the engine bay holding onto the block to make sure it didn't fall over and hit anything. Was tedious to remove everything in the bay, but it's totally achievable, just takes a lot longer.

Head is off.  He pointed out the 1 little chip in one cylinder.  & how the bottom end (is that the block??) had 1 cylinder that was shinier/cleaner that the rest because water had been getting in there.  Was good to see when they lowered the hoist that the boot was covered with good thick cloth cover & there were other bits in the engine bay covered as well. 

The bottom end covers the block, crank, rods and pistons. Basically what is left in your car. Pic1
Cylinder is the 4 large round holes in the block that the pistons travel up and down