Thanks everyone for all the advice, and tips. I was gonna wait until the new heads and gaskets show up before I remove the existing heads but it sounds like I need to start in on it now to inspect other parts in the engine. I’m working on it in my garage so I’ll probably pull the engine and trans and put the motor on a stand. Just sucks I bought this set up from a member here for $3500 everything was suppose to be in great condition.
After I got it started the turbo blew oil straight through the center section at that point I figured the motor had been ran hard and neglected also. Lucky Me. I really would like to enjoy my car, scared of being ripped off again buying a complete, I will just work with what I have.
Hey man where in Norcal are you?
I am in the Bay Area myself, and I am actually about to pull off some heads for a customer's ride and we are going to send them down to Duttweiler to get them ported for about $500.
If you would like a helping hand, or someone to lend any guidance or drink beer while you do all the work- let me know and I'll be happy to come by and be of assistance!
Make
sure to label
everything you pull off. All the bolts, all the lines, even label where the sensor plugs go in case you aren't very familiar with the engine yet. It does take more time to do it this way, but when you are putting the motor back together it is
far better to have your bolts labeled and know exactly where they go, then spend hours on the internet trying to figure out what bolt goes on the EGR solenoid that mounts to the valvecover, and what size nut is for the EGR itself...you get the picture..
Since you will be pulling the heads off, I'd also recommend getting them ported. You don't need to spend $1,500 and wait 8 months (ask around about the wait time for Champion Heads) for your heads to arrive. Find a good head porter (Dank GN above is a good dude, or Kenny Duttweiler is who I will be using for my customer) and have them do a simple 3 angle valve job and clean up the short turn radius. The heads don't need much work to gain a lot of flow. It shouldn't cost you more than $600-$800 for a valve job and working the short turn radius. I would even spend an extra $80-100 or so, and have them port-match your intake manifold to the manifold gasket you intend to use, and to your heads. This way you make sure the airflow going into your motor is completely uninhibited.
If you'd like any help or have any questions on where to get parts locally (if you are in the Bay) feel free to hit me up.
-Tyler
