Opti is dead...Heads are off...

[Formula383]

Well...a few weekends ago, I had to get the car towed home because the opti-spark gave up the ghost (rotor screw). I also noticed that the car was running warmer than usual, so after the tow truck left I checked the radiator and WTF! It was below half-full?? That could only mean one thing and pulling the plugs confirmed that the driver-side head gasket was leaking on #5. We also found that #1 was also leaking after getting the head off. It's weird how the gasket didn't actually blow but rather just let coolant seep by into the cylinders around the bolts. I guess it happens though. Big thanks again to Tony for helping pull the heads (don't know what I'd do w/o you dude!).

Props to my old engine builder; it looks like a combination of carelessness and questionable machining got me where I am right now:

• Stock head gaskets were used and not the ones I specified
• Bolts on the leaky head were not torqued correctly and I would guess over 90% of the bolts were not tight
• After getting the heads resurfaced by a highly-respected engine builder here, he found that I had an intake valve on #2 and an exhaust valve on #8 that completely failed a vacuum test. Didn't even register on the damn gauge!! So basically my old engine builder didn't machine the valve seats worth a crap so I was probably losing compression since the motor was built.

So, I'll be replacing the OEM opti with a new Dynaspark. The valve seats were machined to get the valves to seal and the heads were resurfaced. We'll be re-installing the heads with some Cometic MLS gaskets. Keep your fingers crossed...