Rob
(still working at taking the radiator off so I can get a wrench on the lower
air line from the exhaust manifold & hoping I have marked the five thousand
vacuum hoses well enough so I can get the sucker back together if the
problem is not too expensive.)
I'm not sure why you're taking the head off. Your symptoms sound more like
an ignition problem, e.g., spark plug wires, distributor, etc especially
since the compression checked out all right. Moreover, a leak down test
should help to find a problem if you suspect something's wrong with the
valves. But anyways, if you are pulling the head, you can make life easy on
yourself and leave the exhaust and intake manifolds attached. Everything
stays on the intake manifold, carb, vacuum lines, including the vacuum
control boxes. Then when you get the head off put it in a stand such as one
of these http://tinyurl.com/xo2h to work on it. Note that it will take two
people to pull the head with everything still attached but it's a lot easier
in the long run.
Eric
The problem I had was the head and carb. My repairs were not adequate. Word
of advice, it must go in precisely with OEM gaskets and anything around it
has to be inspected. The head must be in top shape before it goes in. After
1200 mi, angle torque it again. Any signs that the head had been exposed to
over heating prior should be rejected...god knows what's gonna go wrong.
The best approach is get a new motor from the salvage yard with a
compression inspection report nearing the 184 range. Not below 180s range.
These top range means that's there's no overheating and untouched and will
last forever, assuming proper maintenance.
A motor here runs about 200 bucks, the price of your car. If I can go back,
I would care for my baby differently. That's why my 15 year old steady idle
Honda at 250k mi with top spec compression with little or no oil comsumption
is remarkable for a Honda. I could just WELD this hood shut.
Ind
OK. That was my mistake. I reread your original post and noted that you
had indeed stated that there was a problem with the compression.
However, my advice regarding removing the head with the manifolds attached
still stands as the easier method.
Eric