"No warranty. It's a '92. I'll try to grab another head from the yards if I can't figure out what's up with this one. "

I don't bother doing top end jobs any more. If the top is done the bottom is questionable so it doesn't make sense to do a top end job without going through the bottom.

For a yard to sell you a good head means them ruining a good motor (and charging accordingly!) in most cases, so why go through the hassle? I'd find a running (as in "I get to hear it run") engine or better yet a running organ donor vehicle.

 

M'wrench said it: they won't disassemble a good engine to sell the head alone. Not much more $$ to buy the whole thing, and just swap 'em. Quicker, too. BUT! I'd pull the pan on your engine to see if it had a plugged pump pickup. And I'd check the replacement if it is the same vintage, at the cost of a pan gasket, the peace of mind that you would not have that problem again is worth it.
tom

 

Dupe to above due to web wackiness today...
tom

 

Shucks - at this point I'd drop the pan just to pull a lower main and look at it and an upper rod so I could see what amount of wear was on the bearings.

I'm guessing they're both down to the brass.

Same old story:

"I ain't lyin' - it run when I done sold it..."

I hate people like that.

Jackasses that aren't worth the tree they turn wrenches under