I may do the Iron mountain heads but want to make sure i don't have any issues that i should fix first. looking back into the head from the exhaust ports i can see what looks like a wet area on the left going to the left of the valve. do these look normal?

looks like blow-by to me. smoke any?

no smoke and i can't see any light coming through when i back light the hole for the spark plugs and seal the valves.

when i rub a finger over the area i can feel that it's a different texture then the area around it but i'm not getting any real oil transfer to my finger. not sure what to think of it. i'm trying to decide between IM heads and just getting the heads ported and polished locally or by myself. i was all set to drop the cash on the IM heads but i didn't realize they used my core to just port, polish and add some valves to the factory one. not sure i can justify the cost.

anybody care to comment on their gains from altering or replacing heads.



thanks again for the help.

yeh, i wouldnt worry too much until it starts to smoke. just looks like a little thats getting past the rings..

yes, thats how the cylinder walls stay lubricated. without a little blow-by,the rings would seize... make sense?

Is it using alot more oil than usual and is the oil blackening rapidly after an oil change as those two things along with spark plug blackening/fouling will give you some idea as to how your rings are sealing. Cracked head leaking oil from the valve train area (top of the head). You could have the head checked for cracks at a shop that does alot of head work or clean them good with degreaser and look for a crack. It would also be possible for oil to leak past the valve stem seals and get into the exhaust runner. As long as it runs good and your oil level is holding it's own then I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. It looks like oil as it appears wet or I would also throw in the idea of over jetting or a stuck float maybe even lack of airflow plugged air filter etc. Just some ideas. Good luck.

I didn't notice that it is a new motor. The typical break-in period may allow more oil use as the rings are seating. I would also make sure I change the oil and filter after the first hour and around 7 to 8 hours of use just to get the initial waste metal out of the oil. Change your oil and filter if you haven't already. Also I usually use conventional oil for the the first 25 hours to let the rings seat nicely and then switch over to synthetic. I also vary engine speeds and don't hold the throttle in one position for too long so as to let the rings seat under varying torque levels. Everyone has their opinion on how to break in engines but this is what many engine builders and research has told me and it has worked for me every time. Once again just some ideas. good luck.

thanks for the help. does anyone have a link to a write up for the tear down and reinstall of the heads?

got it apart and into mud buddy to do the work. i think while it's apart i'll do IM rockers and rods.

any tips on reassembly?

i had a hard time locating any photos of the heads, rockers, lifters or any other internals for the vanguard 23, so here are a couple for others to reference. it's not a full write up but may help someone else.

looking naked with the cover off


top of head w/ valve cover off


rockers


rockers and push rods removed


pistons buffed up