well it turns out i could either have a cracked head or a cracked gasket!!!! my buddy's dad has a shop and says it could be a valve???? somehow i am losing compression on cylinders 3 & 4........ no lose of coolant or oil......... no overheating since i have had it to crack the head......... any suggestions??????

 

Is the engine still in one piece? You haven't tore anything down yet, right?

A compression and leakdown test will tell you what's leaking and where.

 

first impression is failed gasket between 3&4. Maybe damage to the head in this area. whata ever the head has to be removed.

 

engine is still together and i am still driving it, just runs like poo...... my Haynes book say the cam can stay in the head to pull the head but both mechs i have talked to said otherwise.....any ideas???? i was going to have both cylinders comp tested at the same time to see if it is a leak between the cyls or on an ext wall............

 

More than likely a head gasket. Since these engines hava MLS gasket they tend to leak. What is year and mileage? And yes, you can pull head with the cam installed, just don't try to move it and get the tools to hold the cam in place before removing the timing chains.

 

its a 99 with 183k...... i wasn't sure if this was something the avg Joe could do or if it was best to have it done at shop.......the shop where i normally take it said it could be a valve problem....