header repair, sump gasket leak, head swap
A quick detour back to running gear deferring the cosmetics.
Symptoms: exhaust fumes, oil leak, burning oil.
Solutions: uninstall head allowed room to lower header clean and weld hole that rubbed through from lack of clearance at lower firewall. The Supersprint exhaust undoubtedly designed for 1300, now with 1500's taller block jams the curved section up against the firewall. Cutting torch relieved that obstruction and welded up the hole. Efficient, did not have to cut the exhaust and remove the header to repair. Replaced manifold gaskets.
Swapped in alternate European head and high lift full base circle Euro cam. Head is ported with stock valves. Tipo that came out has large diameter valves with 7mm stems, likely shall require new guides, we'll see upon teardown. Issue resolved. Oil burn resolved, acceleration only slightly less radical, and a bit smoother.
Original thin paper sump gasket had failed. Replaced with quality, thick cork product, refreshed fasteners. Fun to inspect the beam con rods ARP fasteners, and note that the only debris in the sump was a tiny bit of o ring / sealant. The engine is in fantastic condition after 11,000 miles of daily use. No more oil leak.
