On Jul 1, 11:30*pm, jim beam <m...@privacy.net> wrote:

> yes. *i'd do jdm or domestic [low mileage] used, NOT rebuilt. *rebuilt
> is only ok is you don't care or if you know a /REALLY/ fastidiously anal
> builder, but they're rarer than rocking horse shit. *typical rebuilds
> rarely last anywhere near as long as the original engine. *lots of
> technical reasons that i cant' be bothered to list right now.

the proverbial urban legend that putting a rebuilt head on an old
engine will make the bottom end go, because the increase of pressure
back to spec is too much for it. my theory, based on seeing a couple
of rebuilt heads, is that they come with so much scrap metal and
shrapnel in the cooling and oiling passages that it clogs the oil
passages in the crank. (one of these did indeed end up with a thrown
rod shortly afterwards)

when i needed a rebuilt head, i eventually went with one rebuilt from
PAECO in birmingham alabama, btw, which was clean enough to eat off
of. they're not at all cheap, though; their main market is SCCA
racers. looking at their website now, i don't see head rebuilding, but
for anyone who wants to go that route, i'd advise at least asking them.