Ok guys heres the deal. I have a 90 tracker that has at least one bad valve. I have another head to install, am looking for input.. The "new" head is supposed to be "good".. Do I take the guys word for it or take it the the local machineshop and have it tested to be sure  

either way, you still need to take the head off your current motor. so why not take both in, and see which is better, or worth doing more?

if its only valves, and everything else is good, then why not just replace the valves? if you got money to spend, maybe do some head work while you're at it, or even a cam is good.

 I second that, know one likes doing engine work twice. did a tranfer case and forgot a snap ring, I didn't break anything but had to dismantle half the case to fix the problem (very not cool)

If the engine is a high mileage one,
you might blow the rings by doing the
head with new valves, I got about 40K
more miles on a 200K motor before it got
very tired

Wild

Karl:

I'm in the process of rebuilding a 16-valve for my '93 4dr 'Kick JLX ("Jammed with Lots of eXtras"). It started out as "replace the crank".  Then I realized that if I fix everything that is bad right now, I don't have to go through the agony of pulling the engine for a loooong time.

The 84k engine ended up having lots of leaky exhaust valves, so the shop is replacing them while it's all open.

It's money well spent as I have reliable, cushy transportation (that may soon become a mild offroader) without the agony of car payments.

If the engine is a high mileage one,
you might blow the rings by doing the
head with new valves, I got about 40K
more miles on a 200K motor before it got
very tired

Wild

I had this happen before, valve seals, planed the head, new head gasket, started the engine a wow, what an unbelievable amount of smoke! Had to redo the whole engine, new rings, hoan, ridge, lower bearings were done while it was apart. And another new head gasket. I've learned, buy an engine rebuild kit and do it all at once.

buy an engine rebuild kit and do it all at once. That statment is advice well taken.. If my tracker wasn't the only thing I have to drive thats gets over 10 mpg and I had an endless supply of cash burning a hole in my pocket..LOL.. I know I should take the head in and do a COMPLETE rebuild on the engine, but you have to see it from my shoes too, is it really feasable to throw that kind of cash into a 14 year old 4x4 thats got a BAD case of Michigan CANCER?? Don't get me wrong guys I'd luv to fix her up and wheel the hell out of it, but my money is as tight as the next guys.. Sorry about the long post

Engine rebuild kits are not really that expensive. If I go to a local Engine shop I can usually get all the stuff(same as a kit) for about $300-$400 and do the work myself.

buy an engine rebuild kit and do it all at once. That statment is advice well taken.. If my tracker wasn't the only thing I have to drive thats gets over 10 mpg and I had an endless supply of cash burning a hole in my pocket..LOL.. I know I should take the head in and do a COMPLETE rebuild on the engine, but you have to see it from my shoes too, is it really feasable to throw that kind of cash into a 14 year old 4x4 thats got a BAD case of Michigan CANCER?? Don't get me wrong guys I'd luv to fix her up and wheel the hell out of it, but my money is as tight as the next guys.. Sorry about the long post

You asked for input, you can do just
the valves, and she will run very well
for about 40K more miles, and the reason
I just did the head was because of $$ also.

Just be aware that this isn't the ideal
way to do the engine, but it will give
you some more miles and time to save
some cash for a Master Rebuild Kit, make
sure you get the one with an oil pump too

Good Luck
Wild

do the head for now, it'll get you back on the road.   then.  it willl give you time to get another engine either low miles or one to rebuild and you can just pull the old engine and stick the new engine in.  

going to do the head and keep my fingers crossed the my engine will not mess up on me i guess... Thanx for the input guys.....

I think there are a few places that specialize in importing japanese engines guaranteed less than 80k because of emissions laws there. I've bought honda engines, but not suzuki. I'll have to price one up....

1k to 2k for a motor with 30 - 80k miles on it had a shope quote me 5k installed !!!!!!    !!!!   think they like the crack pipe a bit to much

Hey why not get the best of both worlds

-  Buy a good used engine to keep you going, it won't
  be much more than doing the head properly.

-  Keep your old engine and build it up as time/money
  permits.

Besides if you haven't done it before you will learn something as you go.

Zag

Good luck finding a used motor. for less then 1k.  all of the wrecking yards I called say, the ones worth haveing last about 10min in the yard.