I just put a rebuilt head on my 92 lude si 2.3.. my uncle claims he put everyting on properly and torqued it down correctly. Now im getting a little moisture in the muffler and it still smokes like a blown head gasket. my uncle also claims its not burning coolant, but what else would make it smoke like that? the car has 144k on it........ someone let me know what they think it is or if it sounds like my rings are bad.... t0ny

 

if it sounds like bad rings, whats some signs of bad rings?

 

do a compression test. It will vary from car to car, but a difference more than 5-10 psi between the cylinders is a good indication of possible bottom end damage.

As for it being your piston rings... I very much doubt it. In an h22/h23 the most common problem in the bottom end is not the rings, but the ring-lands... not a pretty site. I cracked my ring lands when I turboed, the compression was like this

180psi 180psi 65psi 180psi

so it will be obvious if that is the case...

 

thanks, im takign it in wed. to get it done