Well after a dismal day at the auto-x where I only got to do two runs because of the car overheating, I am takign apart the motor and finally sending the tranny off to get built.
Here is what I have so far: torn valve cover gasket, 4 burnt and flat plugs, a cracked radiator, traces of oil in the coolant, BLACK oil (changed 1000mi ago), oil all over the oil pan, silver tranny fluid and nice chunks and shreds on my tranny drain plug. I did a compression test before I started taking everything apart, 3 was down, here is what I had 185 185 155 175.
So here is my list of what I'm doing:
fluidyne radiator, built head, eagle rods, ross 8.5:1 pistons, (another) cometic hg, i already have arp headstuds, new plugs, shep tranny, valve cover gasket, oil pan, balance shaft remover kit, and removal of the ac. WAHOO!!
So tonight its and tomorrow its

 

Wow, i hope everything works out for you man. Can't wait to hear from you after the rebuild.

 

Thanks man. I'm excited about it. I put down 350whp with basically stock everything (not cams) so I'm really hoping to get a lot closer to 400whp

 

it is pretty typical for cyl #3 to be down. I believe my compression test yielded almost the exact numbers as yours. I've heard that this may be due to the design of the intake manifold. From what you are describing, sounds like you had a blown head gasket though.

 

I thought it was the HG, but I drove it home after it overheated and it never overheated on the way home. I got in it a couple of times and the temp didn't move, nor did I blow out white smoke.
When I do pull the head off, I'll post on here and let you know what exactly it was that caused my compression to drop. Who knows it might be a slight break in the hg. Only tomorrow will tell

 

hmmm, that is strange. The temp did not rise on the way home while under boost? I wonder how that oil got in the coolant then? odd.

 

ya really odd.
I have a cracked radiator, so at the auto-x that would explain the high temp. But how oil got there I don't know. I'm not saying I don't have a blown hg, I'm just not sure. I'll see if I can't get the camera tomorrow and take pics for you all

 

Any word on the head gasket? I am interested in any problems with the Cometic gasket.

 

^^ me too...I use cometic as well

 

hey guys, sorry for the long delay. the cometic was just fine. no holes or tears. I also inspected the head, the valves were all seated properly. So i'm thinking its piston rings. Boohoo I need to order so Ross pistons and Eagle rods. Damn it! lol

 

Based on what you've posted, I'm not sure that it's a certainty that your bottom end has issues. Did you do a leak down test? (not just a compression test) Or did you put oil in the cylinders and retest on the compression test? The bad compression could come from a poor headgasket seal even if the headgasket was okay and it also could come from a valve sealing issue. Unless you are looking to rebuild anyway, I just wonder if you should look a little more carefully at the head. Have you checked it to see if it is warped?

 

I'm looking to rebuild anyways. The head is being sent off today, so hopefully tomorrow i'll get a call leting me know if my head is ok. I should be doing the block this weekend