Had a shop in the Chicago suburbs check out a car for $20. They didn't run any intense testing, but they did a pretty thorough wiggle test while I waited to check for anything obvious.

 

Oil pressure dropping like that is pobably a bad sending unit, filter, or clogged gallery. If there was mechanical damage causing 0 PSI at idle no way you'd see 40 as soon as you hit the gas.

As for coolant loss a few things can be at play. Could be burning it (leakdown or combustion gasses test, compression test is good) or there could be a pinhole leak. I wouldn't think much of it... 13 year-old vehicle needing some new cooling system components is to be expected, head gasket isn't the end of the world.

It IS actually a 1999 by VIN right? Has a distributor and wires?


Problem areas:

1) Rust

2) Anywhere the kids siphon gas. These things burn enough as it is! (or don't burn it if your MAP sensor is plugged hehehe)

 

my 96 was hands down the easiest head gasket change i've ever done.

 

Ha, exactly.
My local mechanic charges $50 just to put the car on the lift.