Buying a 1999 civic lx with dirty block from oil?

[Ryhaz]

I was looking at a 1999 Honda civic lx to start a project on and normally this would not be an issue since im just going to swap the motor but with this car I have to drive it daily so it needs to be a good car. now the problem is that right at the Valve cover its dirty with oil. its not leaking like you see it running but it is dirty with oil. now is this an easy fix? or is it going to be expensive and i have to keep looking for another car? I have an image just in case.

Just like this but not only in the corner its like that over the whole part (That is not an actual image of the car)

 

[CO671]

Clean it off, degrease it and see if it continues to leak after a few drives.
If it's just from the valve cover in general, it's an easy fix just a valve cover gasket (unless it needs new valve cover bolts in the case they are missing) or if the oil is leaking from the distributor then you'll just need a new seal, again a cheap fix.

Generally, any oil from ABOVE the head is an easy fix unless there's a crack in the head. If it's between the head and the block, that's a different story and may cost a lot more money and time.

If you really want a Sedan, really choose an LX (since you're gonna motorswap anyway)
After a while all the manual stuff gets really tiring and whatnot. I wish I had started with an EX instead.

Bite the bullet, go for it. If it REALLY bothers you, then simply don't get it.