To fix or not to FIx

[JPCY72]

Hey Guys,

SOooooo my truck burns a lot of oil and I hadnt noticed it until recently.
Its burning probally close to a quart every 100 miles, only when Im coasting to a stop and when I rev it hard in neutral. I did check the compression in 2 and 4 they were both at 120 and the # 2 plug was oily... I have a set of smogger heads that are rebuilt and are 75cc 1.94 intake valve heads 462624 castings. My heads are 1.72 intake valve 74.5cc 339x castings. Do I put the new heads on or do I bother. I dont have the money to rebuild this motor now and I just want to tow with it and drive it occasionally .... what to do??? thanks guys

[19673ontree]

changing head's won't help it , the oil is going by the ring's , compression will still be good because oil lubes the cylinder's and make compression , to fix it will require a rebuild with all new ring's and bearing's , and probably ? a rebore

[woodman13]

Run it till it blows and put a junk yard motor in it whan that happens. Run a heavier oil and save up some money while you drive it occasionally.

[JPCY72]

Well would valve guide cause it to burn oil because some of the cyls dont have oily plugs.... I really dont want to put a junk motor in this. I thought that 120 was worn but still ok? I have been told that the oil usage is due to the worn valve guides.... would it hurt to throw the heads on to see? would I be loosing anything?

[woodman13]

Valve guides will cause white smoke at start up after it sits for a bit and smoke while running will be faint but noticable. 100 miles to the quart is excesive and more than valve guides unless it looks like a mosqito truck when you drive lmao.

If you can do the heads the parts to fix the problem are not that much more and it will last for a few years after a partial rebuild (rings, main and rod bearings). Get rings, bearings and a gasket set and put your heads on. The cylinders are worn, but the new rings will help alot to take some of that wear out. The ridge at the top of the cylinder will be bad and have to be removed due to the oil leaking.

I have ran many junk yard motors for 4-5 years with no issues. Remember if you get a motor from a wrecked vehicle it was running when it was wrecked!

[JPCY72]

So with that said would you guys waste time on this motor or rering a used 400? thats where the heads came from. that motor has 120k and ran when i was removed those heads were rebuilt and the shortblock is sitting in a garage right now unused and I can get it for free....