Is my original 350 with 125-130 compression across the board worth modifiying?

[lbrowne]

My 86 has 116k original miles. It has some wicked valve seal leak because she blows blue smoke if left idling and you get on the gas. If left idling long enough, it'll start puffing out smoke then too. Drives my nuts sitting at lights and getting on the gas and letting out a cloud of blue for the first 60 feet.

We did a compression test and it read 125-130 across the board. I had picked up a set of rebuilt heads for cheap but now I'm questioning is it worth doing the work on this motor? I had planned doing a bunch of upgrades at once (intake manifold, possible rv cam, full length headers and full dual exhaust)

I would hate to do all this work and find out the motor wasn't worth using. It still pulls really strong down the highway and chirps it's 1-2 shift.

Any advice? I plan on doing all this in the spring/summer along with the cab corners.

[tommie]

i would do the bottom end at the same time....

save up some more $$$ to get the short block built too.....

[lbrowne]

See, this truck sees truck duties only. Would building the bottom end be necessary?

If it means pulling the motor, I might as well drop in something that has been totally rebuilt the parts I want already installed.

[Josh454]

If it's just a driver I would leave it.  If it's gonna be a hot rod I would go thought everything.

[Blue 82]

If you got the heads already
Go ahead and put em on
What's it gonna cost you? A gasket set and an oil change? Through in a couple cans of degreaser, a can of engine paint a gallon of antifreeze, a water pump and a couple of radiator/heater hoses for good measure. Pop in a cam and lifter kit while you have it torn down if you feel up to it.

Get it running this weekend.
Any decent parts store should have everything you need.
The hardest part of this whole deal is getting the valve covers off (getting started).