Burned Exhaust Valve. Fix the one bad valve or buy new head from engnbldr?
 

I have gone through my first Toyota pretty well. 1987 22R (Carb.)

Compression is at 170psi on #1,2 and 3. The fourth cylinder shows only 120psi. Oil added to the cylinder only raised the compression by 15psi.

The valve lash was way tight on all cylinders especialy the #4 cylinder, intake: .004 Exhaust: .006

When I pressurize the #4 cylinder at TDC I get obvious air escaping the exhaust pipe and a bit through the #1 spark plug hole.

I figure I have a bad exhaust valve as all other cylinders show no leakage.

I can get the bad valve fixed (if thats the only damage done) for around $60 plus the head gaskets kit I will need. I plan on rebuilding the motor eventaully as its got 195,000mi on it now.

Should I just get the head from engbldr? Money is tight right now as im about to build a house but I need this truck up and running.

Will the OS valves make any difference with the stock exhaust and manifold?


Thanks for the comments,

If you're going to rebuild anyway later on, I'd just have a standard valve job done on the head.


and that's some HIGH compression for a 22r...

I'm getting 170 at all 4 after my rebuild as well. but 170 with that kind of mileage is outstanding.

Well thats good news that all cylinders seem to be in good shape. I am also using some oil. Could it be a scorched valve stem seal on my #4 exhsust seal. It only seems to smoke at a stand still when I gun it I will get a whiff of smoke.

If I rebuild the lower end later down the the road, say 16,000 miles after a new head install, should I rebuild my head again?

Thanks for the quick reply,

no, you will not need to touch the head if you buy a new one and then subsequently rebuild the bottom end later. Only thing I would recommend with that is to take the cam out and re lube it with grease while your rebuilding the engine. Unless it's gonna get rebuilt and running in the same day/weekend as when you pulled it apart. Otherwise you may have wear issues on the dry cam's journals.

personally if it were me, I would just buy the new assembled head rather than trusting a machine shop to do it right. A good valve job is gonna cost about half of what that new head would cost at engnbldr. And if it's not done properly will cost just as much with the extra gaskets and such to have it done again even if the machine shop makes good and repairs for free.

Another option is to just buy a used head for now and not even deal with the valve job. I think someone on here is already selling one to tell you the truth.

Well I have decided to pull the head this weekend. I may just have the one valve repaired but I hate to spend cash on a gasket set for just one valve. If I can swing it, I may go with the EngnBldr new castig with oversized valves and 268C cam.