Hello! I currently have 2 "parts" fieros with different issues. The one I'm hoping to rebuild has a blown head gasket, and the donor motor burns an impressive amount of oil. When I replace the head gasket, should I pull the head off the donor motor and use that head, or should I just replace the head gasket and use the current head.

Thanks!

Your donor motor burns oil why? You can't assume the head is OK.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: Your donor motor burns oil why? You can't assume the head is OK.

No idea, just has the symptoms of burning oil.

you should do a leak down and a compression test to get sense of what is going on with each.
You could have piston ring issues, valve problems ,or both.

To the OP I say pull the cleaner looking head, check it for leakage and straightness. If within spec install it on the engine with a new head gasket. Then do a cylinder leakdown test or even a compression test. That will tell you the quality of the piston ring seal but nothing about the rod bearings. Checking those would require pulling the oil pan and checking every rod for looseness.

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quote Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: To the OP I say pull the cleaner looking head, check it for leakage and straightness. If within spec install it on the engine with a new head gasket. Then do a cylinder leakdown test or even a compression test. That will tell you the quality of the piston ring seal but nothing about the rod bearings. Checking those would require pulling the oil pan and checking every rod for looseness.

Thanks!

If you pull the head because of a blown head gasket, have the head CUT 5-10/1000 to make sure it's not warped (I'd check for cracks also), then Definitely use Premium Gasket and NEW BOLTS.