No Compression -

[734406pk]

Heads were finished Saturday ($900.00) and running Sunday afternoon. Needs some tuning but feels fantastic. Of course now there is a timing cover leak at the bottom where it meets the oil pan - look at that maybe tomorrow.

Hopefully it's something simple like loose bolts. 900? How much damage was there? Jeez.. After your fully tuned, post some results/opinion on those Indy heads if you can. Good luck with the oil leak repair!

[BS CUDA]

8 intake valves, seals and labour, also included new head, intake, header, and timing chain gaskets. Had it out on a little test and tune on some quiet back roads today and it sure seems a WHOLE lot more aggressive than before. Likely take it to the track Friday night and see what the time slip tells me. Tightened the 2 oil pan to timing cover bolts a bit more and so far so good.

 Need another set of drag radials now though - seems I left some of them behind today 

[shadango]

I read along these posts and was on the edge of my seat for ya.

Your story is why I him-haw about doing anything more than replace valve springs...LOL

I have been waffling between swapping out the cam and heads on my 318 versus saving for a stroker engine prebuilt....LOL ....and your story makes me lean towards the crate engine....LOL

[Chryco Psycho]

Ouch on the $900 but I am glad it is running well again 

[BS CUDA]

 I recognize the risk and take the chance - accomplished a lot of things in my garage I never dreamed I could do. Yeah I've saved quite a bit over the years, but one extra hit like the one I just took also makes me wonder. There's been times when I install something - stand back and say - that turned out well. Then there's the times when the redo's due to a leak, broken bolt etc drive me a little bit crazy.

 I run a shop full of professionals and they make mistakes - part of the reason I never pay anyone to do something I think I can do - fortunately they are covered by the companies warranty policy. 

 I would love a crate engine but I was already 5 or 6 years of enjoyment into the stroker and and just wanted to spruce it up a bit    I still ended up with a whole lot more HP for about 25% of the crate.

 In the end I never gained anything by doing this one myself except experience. Would I do it again - HELL YES - my wife chuckling in the passenger seat as I left (I'm guessing) about a hundred feet of rubber or so this evening allows me to puff my chest out just little bit.

 Go ahead and take a chance and build experience - but only if you can afford to make a mistake. If you do pay someone - ensure they are good people.

 

[dutch]

amen to that 
glad you fixed her up.  Still one of my favorite cuda`s on here 

[Chryco Psycho]

I have always preferred to do it myself , education always cost $$ but it might as well be my education not someones elses I am paying for !
 I bet the bigger carb you went with a while back will pay some dividends now !

[734406pk]

Nice job! I'm sure it stings having to pay for that repair, but on the plus side it could have been worse and by posting this situation, you may have saved another c-c.com member from a disaster! Best of luck at the track!

[BS CUDA]

 Thanks again for all the advice folks - it is greatly appreciated.

 CP - yes the carb seems to be much more effective now - still tuning but..............

 Now if you all will join me in the electrical problem thread I just created