Head rebuilt?

[blackhawk60]

I have noticed that besides a slight loss of power (most likely my exhaust leak), I have some blue smoke when I stomp on the gas, just enough for me to notice in my rearview. I consume about 1 quart every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks approx 600 mi. Should I just replace the valve seals or what other symptoms define a head rebuilt?

 

[CALL AAA]

I am thinking that you've got worn piston rings. I think it's oil being burnt along with fuel. I've got the same problem. What I'm wondering, is how hard it is to change them. Is there any way to do it without removing the whole motor? I will have the heads off soon, and I want to do as much as I can while I'm in there. (unless I get authorization to do.....drum roll...... "THE UPGRADE.") Or is this something better left to Ford or theSho Shop. Thanks.

And Balckhawk60, just curious, where did your screen name come from? Are you a 60A/H/L/U/M pilot or crewman. (I'm an SH-60B crewman)

 

[blackhawk60]

I'm a former HH-60G avionics tech @ Kirtland AFB in NM.

 

[blewbyu]

If you are going to do the rings, yank it and do it on an engine stand, so much easier. You have to dissasemble the entire block to do the rings anyways, so why leave a bare block i the car, to hard to access. IMO. I used to live in El Paso for 24 years, miss NM and that area. BIG OPEN ROADS wink

 

[CALL AAA]

What does that require as far as lifts and or removing things too heavy for me to lift?

 

[blackhawk60]

Well this just might bump my 3.2 conversion w/3.0 heads into gear a little more. How much debugging is req after the swap is done?

 

[rangerj]

Blackhawk60,

The most common, and logical, cause of your oil burning is bad valve seals. If you suspect bad piston rings, do a compression and leakdown test.
Your loss of power could be from fouled plugs from the oil being burned.

You do not even have to pull the heads to change the valve seals. So, unless you want to pull the engine and do a rebuild just for the **** of it, do some diagnostics first.

FWIW, the P-47 "Razerback", (as apposed to the "bubble-top") in your icon does not look anythig like a Blackhawk H(eavy)H(elicopter)60.

There aint nothing like the distinctive "wop wop wop" of the UH-1s (Huey) rotors, especially when your waiting for an extraction, and the natives aint friendly. rangerj