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Finally ordered the rest of the gaskets thinking heads on this weekend and leak-testing until next weekend then assemble....weather is getting nice so this thing needs to drive.

Still trying to decide what to do on the WBO2....I'm pretty sure the sensors are dead so I could order new for $100 which is a basically under the radar number. But if I'm being honest I really don't trust the way I set the ECU up to read them and would like to buy a could external controllers that I do trust bumping the cost to $400 and this would be noticed so I kind of want to wait until I know the heads are sealed ....but then I'll need tires too as the ones on the car are 20 year old rocks and the rears probably won't pass inspection, oddly the fronts look almost new, strange how they wore so differently

I pulled the other head yesterday and this time took pic before touching anything. Piston 7 is clean and 12 pretty clean kind of as expected but I THINK that is oil on 7, 8, 11, 12 but not 9, 10...that is a tad confusing. Tonight the plan is to clean everything up and maybe have a long look possible oil paths....for sure it was smoking but I had myself completely convinced that was a mix of way too much fuel and some coolant but there probably shouldn't be oil on the pistons. Also there is what looks like fluid from the stud holes to the cylinders....could simply be oil poured down the stud holes as I pulled the head off but I think a good long look is in order

As a software guy, I'm here to say that I'm glad nobody's counting on me to debug this.

It really does look like you have some mysteries to solve here. FWIW, I believe in you.

I think I'm going to pore alcohol in the cam galley and see if it stays there....that is the only idea I have to leak check the welds separating the intake ports from the cam oil

No leaks at least not that alcohol soaks through after 30 minutes of waiting. I think I just had oil in the head and it poured down the stud holes and into the cylinder when I pulled the head. There is oil all over the foam I set it on yesterday which I think is further evidence.

This head is cleaned up and ready to install.

Lots of rain so no yard work...out to clean up the other head and paint on some sealant. The plan is paint block, gaskets, heads and wait...you said 10 minutes so I guess I'll try a touch test at that point and maybe wait some more depending. Then 30 ft-lbs today, 55 tomorrow, 70 the following day. Wait.....(maybe an air leak test) heat to 180-200 let it cool and re torque to 70.

Oh, still didn't make the shins...I need to do that and get a custom washer under the coolant temp sensor so it points the right way and isn't relying on rtv.

heads are on and sitting at 25ft-lbs


The shims came out nice

I didn't have the balls to to go into the shop on mother's day so it sat almost 48hrs at 25 and in now 50ft-lbs

Totally go into the shop on Mother's Day... just take the kids with you.

Do make sure she understands ahead of time that they'll know how to weld by nightfall, though.

I am so goddamn stoked to see how this new setup works out for you.

As an outside observer, I don't want this to be over - but as a human being capable of empathy, I really wanna see you get the win you deserve!