My ignition refresh job turned into a timing belt job which now I'm considering turning into a head gasket job. I have the timing belt off so I already disassembled the stuff at the front of the engine. I knew that I had an oil leak (drips even when the car hasn't been run for weeks), but I figured it was probably my oil pan gasket and camshaft seal (I'm gonna change both of those). No mayonnaise that I can see. Now that I have better access, I'm pretty sure it's a leaky HG (pictures attached, although some of that stuff is coolant from when it splashed around when I was draining it). Last time the HG was done was in 1993 @ 55k miles. The car has ~240k miles on it now. Oh yeah and I did the valve cover gasket about 3 months ago (but stupidly didn't know to do the rocker shaft plugs).
So should I do the HG now (I haven't done a compression test or leak down test) or put everything back together, drive around a bit, do a compression test then consider doing the HG? My goal with this car is to turn it into my DD by summer.
Also, I know if I do the HG I would need to get the head machined and valves ground (or is grinding valves something I can do myself), how much do machine shops typically charge for that? Also, would I need any other work done by the machine shop?
Thanks!



So should I do the HG now (I haven't done a compression test or leak down test) or put everything back together, drive around a bit, do a compression test then consider doing the HG? My goal with this car is to turn it into my DD by summer.
Also, I know if I do the HG I would need to get the head machined and valves ground (or is grinding valves something I can do myself), how much do machine shops typically charge for that? Also, would I need any other work done by the machine shop?
Thanks!




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