[V8] Rebuilding/ refinishing v8 heads

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

I would be tempted to rebuild the heads from the "new" motor, and put them
on your old block assuming that it is OK once you get the heads off it. 
Generally the bottom end is OK after an incident like this.  Some things
to think about:

the 3.6L is kind of known as an oil burner. You should be able to tell by
looking at the plugs if your motors fit this bill.

Under hood rubber things fail at a fairly high rate on these cars.
Probably due to high under hood temperatures. If you are mechanically
inclined, I would attend to them now - when access is easy.  Things to
inspect and or change:

* heater hoses. ridiculously  expensive molded hoses that are hard to
change.  Labor is about the same with the heads on or off.

* steering rack boot (not that expensive but labor intensive.  Much easier
with the heads off.  If your boot is cracked at all I would fix it.  The
rack will fail if the boot is cracked.

* power steering hoses. Even more ridiculously priced than the heater
hoses but fortunately you can have them rebuilt fairly cheaply.  Again,
the labor is much easier with the heads off.  If these show any sign of
leaking, you may as well deal with it now.

* fuel lines. Especially the two from body to engine.

* CV joint boots.  Make sure they are still good (they probably aren't). 
The CV joints will last forever if the boots are good - and will fail
quickly if the boots are bad.

* flush brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid

These are great cars when they are running properly but can eat you alive
if you have to pay a mechanic for everything.  If you can do some of your
own work you can save a ton of money and make the car reasonably
affordable to own.  It will never be "cheap" even if you got the car for
free.

Dave

>
>   I bought a 1990 V8 3.6 L audi over the summer and i got the car for a
> song because the guy snapped the belt and the motor is shot. So over the
> summer i bought a replacement motor for very cheap and took a gamble on
> it. The replacement motor still had its time and was complete with
> heads. So now i've got all the parts to my mechanic and after some
> testing he is not comfortable putting this motor in because he isnt
> getting good compression and tells me *several* of the valves are not
> seating properly and if  go ahead and put this motor in it will most
> likely run awful and smoke a lot. He tells me he wants to take the heads
> off and send them out to be re-finished.  And then put it all back
> together. I really like the car and i don't have much money invested
> into it so i am considering his advice.  Will i be able to find someone
> to do this for me? Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I would put
> the whole motor on a pallet and send it somewhere to be done if anyone
> does it
>  on the side. Basically i just need help with this situation.
>
>  Or should i just but a motor that has been cleaned and tested and and has
> a Gaurantee and just forget that motor?
>  I am really in love with this car and it only has 76,000 miles and 1
> owner, absolutely mint in and out.  I dont mind spending a little $ for
> this low milage beauty.   Are the heads on the original motor with the
> bent valves shot? When the valves bend does that damage the actual head?
> I need advice.
>   Thanks guys.
>
>   Chris
>   West Haven CT.
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