Just did a leak down test.

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

just thinking in terms of percentages, I suppose you could have two warped valves, but it seems more likely that you have a blown head gasket. Of course I have no idea what the issue is, but just saying...

Maybe you might ask if the price would be less if he gets it apare and finds that it in fact is not two burnt valves...i.e. less work for him, less money for you to pay.

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

Uhhhh, I call BS. I have run the modern gas in the 1984 engine in my van that was rebuilt in 2003 and I have had no problems. The unrebuilt engine in my 76 truck has been running regular pump gas for over a year and no problems. The 1976 slant six with a 1972 cylinder head in my brother's 83 van was rebuilt back in the 90s and runs regular pump gas and has NO PROBLEMS. I think he is scamming you and trying to get money, or he just doesn't want to do the work and is trying to price you out of his shop.

Is there any board member close to where you are? For $1600 you could buy a different van....

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I told my sister the same thing Reed!
That he was trying to price the job so we couldn't afford it.
He mentioned to her new spark plugs and oil and radiator fluids in the bid etc.
I told her that was bullshit - the spark plugs ran less than an hour as did the new wires and oil and oil filter and the radiator fluid is bright green too!

The price he quoted was way off the charts in my book - so he did not want to work on it - it is not one he needs on his resume of vehicles to brag about...

Going to move it back here and tear it apart myself. Even if it takes me days a little at a time, until it is apart and I can look at the insides I really won't know and really still do not know.

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

Reed has a good point. Is there a slanter anywhere close? You could pay them to come over with a decent head and help you do the work for less than that.

Did you check LA area Craigslist for a head?

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

not yet - going to shortly
running out of energy and awake in me now...
the stress is getting to me and I am finding myself starting to run out of energy a lot quicker these days... might be the shorter days too!

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/5881466401.html

found this just now...
might have to call if that is what I find I need in the next day or two...

gotta go to sleep
talk with ya'll later...

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

$200 for a truly rebuilt head is a smoking deal, but I (a) would like to confirm that the head does, in fact, need to be replaced before you spend $200 on another, and (b) would like to verify the condition of the other head and hopefully see some receipts before I believed it was ready to run no problems.

But I am not telling you anything you don't already know. I hope you find someone local who can help you out. Heck, even someone with a cherry picker you could stab in the passenger door to hang the head and manifolds from to minimize the necessary disassembly.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Reed, as much as there are nice guys that offer and actually do stuff like that, helping that is, I have never ever found them. Only one or two close neighbors have ever helped me with any of my engine or van problems and especially like this!

I'm a frickin pretzel in total pain right now too...

No biggee, with the help of the guys in here like yourself, guiding me in the right direction with a few of my past problems, I have managed to keep this poor van on the road this long, I'll figure this out and be back home pretty soon... I hope!

LOL

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

I've got some friends down in LA. Mopar guys too. I'll ask and see if they're up for a trip to Orange. If you would, PM me with your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Many times you can burn a valve and the seat isn't too far gone. With a new valve and some lapping compound you might be able to get it squared away.

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Joshua

Thanks Josh!

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

You're welcome. Are you able to go after that head in Anaheim? It's a good looking head and the price is right. If you can get that, gaskets and such all together then we can see what labor is available to make the van whole again.

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Joshua

I'd get the head, and a $50 complete gasket set on E-Bay and with a little help you could be back on the road for a few hundred instead of $1600. Good luck.

Rick

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

Thanks Rick...
That is what I will probably end up doing if I need a new head - but until I get the rig back over here and tore apart I have no idea how bad or not so bad things are...

May only be the head gasket at this point still...
Although, I am not going to say that I am not fearing the worst case scenario!!!

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"I may be slow, but at least I'm not very fast!"
'69 A108 - 225, 727, 3.55, MSD6AL, a.k.a.-the brick

The head at $200 is a fantastic deal and insurance policy pending what you find when you pull yours.

brian

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2