Turns out it is much worse than that...




Cylinder #1 had a Timesert installed maybe 10 years ago, not sure if it's solely the Timesert installation or a combination of thinner walls and heat that caused it. For about two years now, I've been lazy... I started having some issues while cruising at highway speeds when the car was warm, it would act like a misfire, but would REFUSE to code at all. It would also almost stall after starting it again after a short'ish trip and required some throttle to clear a simili-flood so that I could start moving. I pretty much stored it in June last year because I didn't feel like tearing it apart as I was suspecting a burnt valve. I could hear some kind of oscillation in the exhaust while driving, so it made sense.

Now I guess I have to look for either a performance head or find a good one and have it refreshed. The good news is that I have learned that the R50 head is the same, but you need to swap the valves from the S in it (sodium filled).

 

Bummer man. I was worried I might have the same thing a couple years ago when I tore mine down, and was ready to pull the trigger on a high flow head if need be. Which performance heads have you been thinking about?

 

RMW most likely. I already have header installed and bought the cam and injectors two years ago, but didn't install those as I was waiting to refresh or replace the head... I'm getting into expensive territory. My idea was pretty much the RMW head, cam, injectors, TVS and tune and call it done on the engine.