oil change and hot compression test completed. Changed oil to some Valvoline VR-1 Racing 20w-50, which is helping it idle a little better. it's not jerking around as much, but still quite a lot. I did about 4 miles of several WOT runs and 60mph cruising to get the new oil warmed up.

compression results (all plugs out, fuel relay removed, WOT):

1: 100PSI
2: 120PSI
3: 100PSI
4: 132PSI

Head's gonna need to come off. Also noticed that I just started leaking some oil. HORRAY!

I didn't see the mileage mentioned. I recently did a valve job with all new timing parts on one that burnt 2 ex valves. Bill was over 6K$ The parts are real spendy and its huge labor to get the front cover off to replace the timing parts.

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

Car has 155k miles.

I will be pulling everything. Got quoted $650 to refurb the head by the guy that the dealership contracts out headwork to - he's done a cosworth head before.

worst case, guides are about $18 and exhaust valves are about $90... so if i've burned a few this will likely run me 1k-1.2k with gaskets and all the other crap that goes along with it, "while i'm there" like the water pump. I already have a bag of brand new, OE timing components so I'll just do that while it's apart.