Supposedly bad engine

[Pillage]

When i bought the car from this guy, he said that a rocker had had broken or come loose and fallen down. So i was gonna take the head off and see if maybe a valve hit a piston or whatnot. Anyway i took off the valve cover, and all the rockers look normal. Although i do believe that he had a mechanic look at it so it is possible that he just put it back on. So then i tried to turn it over but i had nothing left in my battery. Anyway, what should i do? Remove head and check for damage and try to rebuild, or just put in a new engine. Also, I am pretty mechanically inclined, but this will be my first real project, thanks to anyone that answers.

P.S.- Also do i really need to release fuel pressure by turning the engine over or is it a big deal? Becuase i really dont wanna cause any more damage than there alreayd might be.
Modified by Pillage at 8:12 AM 6/4/2005

[phroze2001]

maybe pull the head and check out the pistons and walls and have the head rebuilt if all is good...

[Pillage]

And i should just visually inspect the walls by shining a flashlight in coolant passages or is there a better way?

[tryiian]

not that you really need to open or disconnect any part of the fuel delivery system (save the harness from the injectors) to get the head out, but even if you wanted to leave the fuel rail on the mani, you aren`t gonna spill enough fuel to affect anything if you unhook the rail from the filter, and no damage can be done for sure. You are welcome to pull the fuel pump fuse and crank away if you`re so inclined, though.

[spider_slayer]

i'd try and get it to turn over then go from there ...... pulling a head isn't exactally a day job

[FliMSiCaL]

ka heads are a sinch to get off, takes about 3 hrs. just unbolt both manis and slide back out of the way, remove power steering pump/bracket and idler pulley/bracket, and a few other nick nack things. Unbolt head and go.