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Cylinder head woes


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Okay, some of you know that I have posted about this before, but it's still an ongoing problem, so I'm asking again.

 

I replaced the head gaskets in my 86 XT. When I got the heads off, I discovered the cracks between the valves. Thinking this was a problem at the time, I replaced the heads with a rebuilt set out of Texas.

 

Got it all assembled and in the car, runs, but won't idle. I figured bad gas. Drained, refilled, idled, but rough. No power until the boost comes on. Tracked it to the number 2 cylinder. Pulled compression, and found 120-130lbs on all but #2, which had 10lbs. Torn it apart again, figuring bad/damaged gasket. Eventually figured out that one or more valves were being held open. The valves in the #2 cylinder were replaced during the head rebuild. The intake was found to be too long. Had it ground down. Now the exhaust valves are being held open.

 

What the #$*^ is going on?? They all close just fine, if I loosen the bolts that hold the cam carrier on, so the cam is pushing them open. Am I not putting enough "fluid packing" in the groove on the cam carrier? Did they hork up the head when they rebuilt it? The other head from them seems to be fine.

 

I'm seriously considering swapping the old cracked head back on...

 

Any ideas anybody??

 

Thanks!!

 

Brian

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  • 2 years later...

Hi there..i see you are having some problems..here.

I think i know what is going on...your lifters are not pumping down..when you had it apart..you should check all the lifter,by putting thm in a vice with soft jaws and make sure the all compress..dont over doing but..the will go down a little..thats all around 4mm..so i think the lifters on n#2 are not releasing and hence holding your valves open..just to save you some trouble..dont pull the head...as this would be happening to all cylinders on this head if they botched up the head..so check the lifters and let us know how you go..good luck..i hope this helps you..cheers:)

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