Heads and things....

[ChevellRCR]

I am pulling an engine today that has approx 300,000 miles on it. I have to install in in my daily driver which was mistreated in it's youth (by the previous owner) and has sever oil use and blow by. The engine I'm pulling runs good and its previous owner states that it burns no oil but does leak some. I'm planning on resealing it, rebuilding the oil cooler, and adding new injectors. My question is should I pull the heads and rebuild or just let them ride. I am going to swap the bolts for studs but can do that without removing the heads. This will be a turbo application. One side of me says do it but the other side says why on an engine that may have to come out again in the next 100,000 miles or so to be rebuilt. So what do you all think?

 

[Nero]

If you are going to turbo, I would bare minimum do the head gaskets while it is apart, if it is the factory stamped steel gasket, im sure it is tired and may blow. All new gaskets are composite.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I like to pull the heads and look at the cylinders. Also, you won't be able to clean out the head bolt holes with the heads in place. It's amazing how much crud can sit at the bottoms of those holes.
One thing about having the heads redone, you'll know that they won't be causing you any issues in the foreseeable future. Think of it as insurance. Once you have the heads off, you will have an idea on how long the engine will last by looking at the cylinders.
One other thing I like to do when installing a used engine is to remove at least 2 of each of the bearing caps, 2 rods and 2 mains. That way you can see the wear on them. There's no piece of equipment out there that can replace a good visual inspection. My thinking is that gaskets are cheap compared to an engine that leaves you stranded.

 

[ChevellRCR]

Got the engine out. I totally agree on the rods and mains. The engine is clean all over. The only oil leak I found that it has are both the valve covers. I have two sets of heads already built but I was hoping to save them for future builds where the engines will be completely fresh

 

[ChevellRCR]

I'll pull the valve covers and oil pan tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing the condition of the insides.