Figured i could get the best advice here for my sickly Civic. Its a '90 DX hatch with 185k. I've owned it 10 yrs and have had pretty good luck with it until now. Seems i have a bad valve but I'm wondering about my piston rings.
Compression was 160, 165, 40, 160. So I'm wondering if i should rebuild/replace the head and button it up or should i be thinking of a complete rebuild/replace. Ideally, i guess i should get a leak down test, right?


To add to that, my clutch is just about shot i guess, it doesn't slip but is hard to get in 1st sometimes. Overall, its a nice clean civic with a good body and paint and it has AC so... just looking for opinions and advice.

I think i can handle this job myself 'cause I'm not spending the 2gs a shop would charge - i did replace the timing belt and water pump myself, so, it will be a challenge but i have a garage and another car that runs so i can take all the time i need.


Thanks in advance!

 

Do this^. You need to know where compression is lost before you pull the engine apart.