ok brought the car in to change the heater core today ....WTF.....10 + hours,,,,really???? thats ridiculous.....i dont think im going to dive into that until i know i have a dependable motor under the hood

Henry...i ran the vaccum test you linked me too....according to my gauge senario number three is right on the money only a couple inches lower [flicker at 12-14 inches] not 15-16

senario #6 for the leaking or burnt valves is not even close?????now what.....we have mechanically tested with air to confirm a partially open exhaust valve .....thoughts????

 

Shop Book says 6.4 hours for heater core change. Yes, it is about 8-10 hours for a first-time DIY.

Vacuum's scenario 3 is not good -- it confirms that you have valve overlap. Normal for our cars is Scenario 1, with vacuum at 18-21 steady.

Scenario 6 is a severe condition, which you don't seem to have.

Your vacuum is too low at 12-13. I would check for vacuum leaks too. Also, when was the last time you serviced the PCV?

 

Also Vacuum test shows your Valve spring is weak, or hydraulic lifters are partially blocked. Do you have lifter noise on startup?

 

theres not a lot of lifter noise at really....ive had other 6 cylinders that the lifters just sang on all the time

so let me ask you this.......other than a potential vacuum leak somewhere that i cant find, will replacing the head fix these issues????

we have a friend who can get our honda on the road for a while ....we are taking the 960 off the road today....i hate to do it but i work seasonal and i just cant continue dumping 200 here 500 there into this car at this time .......the wife wants me to junk it but im hoping i can put some money together down the road and get it going again.....ive been a sports car collector/restorer most of my life and i cant explain why ive fallen so in love with these wagons .....its so weird.....lol.....my dream for this lil red wagon would be some nice spoke rims.....dark tint..no chrome....clean sporty exhaust notes and a pretty serious stereo......"euro-sport" look.....not an autocross car or circuit racer or anything crazy, ive done that and the cars don't fair well aesthetically......

wish me luck people