Ok So my 1995 civic dx is smoking real bad. So I figured I would replace the head and go ahead and do a minime swap. My question is the head I am buying has 149k on it and has a bad valve. Would all I have to do is replace the valve or would it require machine work? The seller only wants forty bucks for the head. Thanks guys

 

Machine work is a good idea, but also is on a case by case basis. I paid $172 to have my last head rebuilt locally, included maching the mating surface, replacing one valve, and 3 angle valve job on all valves. If you're in doubt, you should bring it by your local machine shop and have them do an inspection. They'll be able to tell you exactly what needs to be done.

 

so is $40 a good price for the head?

 

not bad did it come with solenoid?

 

Pressure check the head, and probably just needs to be resurfaced. The shop will most likely hot tank the head while they are at..

HOPSING FOR THE WIN
San Diego Love

 

Before you replace the head, might want to consider a couple of other things.

What color is the smoke? If the smoke is white, might be water/steam. If the smoke is dark, more likely oil burning. Is your car going through oil or water? Usually whatever is being consumed is what is coming out of your tailpipe.

Did this smoke just start suddenly or has been doing it for awhile and gradually getting worse?

Has the car overheated recently or ran low on water/oil?

The Honda engines are pretty solid but if they get overheated, you can blow a head gasket or even bust a head/block. Probably not the case but just wanted to point it out.

Finally, a used head for $40 is a good deal but if it has a burnt valve, really should take it to the machine shop and get a valve job done on all the valves. BE SURE and ask them to check the head for straightness as well. If it's not straight, they can mill it straight for you. If you put on a head that's not straight, it may leak oil/water or both and may not run very well.

Good luck with your project and holler if you have any questions about what I've said.

 

Thank you for the quick replies everyone. A little back ground on the motor. I bought the car in Jan of this year, well it started smoking really bad the next month. When I "get on it" there is a lot of smoke in the higher RPM range. I go through tons of oil. I am hoping it is the valve seals. So I figured instead of replacing the head with a non-vtec head I would go ahead and do a mini-me swap. I figure I will buy the head take it to a machine shop, have then resurface it clean and install new valves and I may replace the valve springs.

Once again thank you!

Chris