Original FZ Engine Priorities

[jaymar]

Let's say you buy an FZ cruiser with 250k on it. Sure, there's baselining. But let's say your plan is to build (or rebuild) another FZ engine to replace the current one--and that may take a few years, as time and money allow. Every engine's history is different but, generally speaking--what would you be checking and perhaps replacing now, to keep the original engine going until the new one is ready? And which new/cleaned components used to keep the old engine going would you NOT want to switch over to the new engine because the old engine/system might gunk them up etc.?

 

[nukegoat]

Head gasket

 

[Njck22]

Just run it till something breaks then fix it. If it blows the headgasket then expedite your replacement engine plans.

 

[SaturnAscends]

Just run it till something breaks then fix it. If it blows the headgasket then expedite your replacement engine plans.

I think his HG is already bad going from previous threads.

 

[SaturnAscends]

Let's say you buy an FZ cruiser with 250k on it. Sure, there's baselining. But let's say your plan is to build (or rebuild) another FZ engine to replace the current one--and that may take a few years, as time and money allow. Every engine's history is different but, generally speaking--what would you be checking and perhaps replacing now, to keep the original engine going until the new one is ready? And which new/cleaned components used to keep the old engine going would you NOT want to switch over to the new engine because the old engine/system might gunk them up etc.?

I'd say just bite the bullet and pony up for a head gasket and valve job, then just drive it for a while. Hopefully the head/blovk aren't too badly warped.

In the meantime, you could save up for a new shortblock or a rebuild. 1FZs usually run pretty clean with decent oil changes, so I wouldn't worry too much about it bring "gunked up" unless maintenance has been very poor.

Also I'm no expert, but from what I've read on here conrods and big end bearings will be the first components to show major wear on the bottom end, so you might wanna look at doing those down the road.

 

[Fosters]

Typical failure is the valve seals hardening…so a head job is probably for the best imho,
The rest seems to chug along just fine