Thought I already posted this message. Doesn't show so I must not have. Remember typing it out ( I think ). Maybe it went to the wrong place? Anyway, here goes ( again ).
Just got a message from the instructor at Tech. school. Asked him to do a compression check on Old Rusty before sending him over to the body shop section. He said the L/F ( I think ), #5 cyl. & the one next to it only had about 70 lbs. When it's two together like that that means a head gasket IF I remember right from what I've read here ( probably Conanski ). He also told me he'd heard a little bit of piston slap on #1. He says that's fairly common on the 302s & that it'll still run a long time. Just something about the 302s that around 100,000 they start to get that. Definitely having more & more trouble with the story about " a new Jasper long block about 40,000 miles ago ". " Lost the paperwork in a divorce " . Know from what I've seen this guy didn't believe in maintenance, but 40,000 miles & a head gasket PLUS this piston slap that usually starts around 100,000? I'm not the sharpest marble in the drawer, but something is starting to smell kinda funny here. Please tell me it's just a head gasket & not something serious. Don't even want to think about an engine.

 

soynds like a head gasket to me

 

X2

 

Thanks guys, kinda what I was expecting. Good news / bad news situation. Good news, nothing major. Bad news, something else to get fixed before I put it on the road. Quick questions, should I have both done since I'm that far & what about a valve job while the heads are off? Mileage on engine is unknown. Was told when I bought it " Had a new Jasper longblock about 40,000 miles ago " " No, I lost the paperwork in a divorce. " Am having some serious doubts about that. Speedometer ( okay odometer ) shows about 45,000. Title said 50,000 or 55,000 if I remember right when I transferred it. So it's turned over AT LEAST once.

 

If it were mine and planned to keep it for any length of time, have both heads looked at and repaired.

 

a head job on an already worn block will result in a bottom end know within 2 weeks. if you have to have the heads done go ahead with a re-ring too.

 

If the bottom end is going to blow, would I be better off to go with a Jasper longblock ( as I was told originally it had ) or something similar rather than trying to have this one rebuilt? Finances are a mess right now. What would be the best way to go? Know Jasper ( big name ), what about a crate motor from FORD? Don't know who else has engines. Am nervous about going to a junkyard, it may run, but then I may end up right back where I started. Think I'd prefer going new rather than taking a chance on something used ( if I don't rebuild this ).

 

Just my .02. I try not go to a junk yard inless I have to...lot bad things in the past

 

Okay folks, thought I had already updated this. Must've forgot. Had a message from him a few days after that, The whole left side ( didn't do the other side yet ) only shows 60 - 65 on all cylinders. Tried 3 different gauges, all the same. Went up & talked to him. Said no way, runs too good to be ½ dead. He agreed & said he was bringing his gauge from home the next day. Later in the week got a message " The rubber extension hose now residing in the trash can was collapsed. All cylinders read 140 - 145. " So good news & no problems. Sorry for not updating. AAADD & CRS combined.