Greetings, I picked up an '82 Accord LX (Hatchback) last week as a freebie because the owner said the headgasket was blown. After I towed it home, all I could find was the radiator hose behind the engine was cracked open, and the fan switch was altered (he messed with it quite a bit). I hooked the fan back up, fixed the hose and started her up. No oil in the water, no water in the oil, is there any other things I can do short of taking the head off and going thru the whole ordeal? I am out of town but when I get back I will be doing a compression test, and cleaning the engine compartment as I think the oil pan gasket is leaking (they said it smoked, but didn't say from where, I think the oil leak from the pan was getting sprayed with highway winds onto the exhaust).

I ran it for 45 to 60 minutes in my driveway, no overheating, temp went to normal and didn't move, no smoke from the tailpipe, I even drove it out on to the street, turned around and backed it into the drive way for a quick test.

Thanks in advance,

-Ian
Prior owner of an 81 Accord Sedan (loved that car)

 

Don't go ripping the head off if you don't need to, those head bolts will be a killer anyhow. [10mm 12 point head rounds off in a heartbeat]
What the problem might be is those heads would crack internally, then you get a symptom of car temp and performance is good at no load & cool engine. Then if you go for a drive...hwy speed pulling a hill the temp will climb up and the engine will dog out.

 

That very well could be. I have to take it for a drive when I get back and see if it heats up after driving for a while.

Thanks for your reply, that added more insight I needed.

Would a compression test help reveal a cracked head, I guess depending on where the crack was?

Thanks again!