Clark W Griswold

Current state: unseen outside of photos. Good compression test and visual that there is no leakage or deposits in the head area. A valve adjustment was done in 2013 (presumably broken lower bolts would be noticed?) Are these "good enough" reasons to assume head bolts are ok?

myflat6

Love your user name. You want to avoid the family truckster purchase

A good mechanic will check head studs during valve adjustments (mine notes this on records/paperwork) but you cannot assume this was done. Also could have broken since that time. It is easy to check so I would have them checked.

Clark W Griswold

It is easy to check?

myflat6

For a mechanic yes - so if you are having a PPI done this should be requested as part of it. It isn't hard even for the average do it yourself car guy but you would need access to the car and time to remove valves covers to check them, then replace valve cover gaskets and put them back on. There are several more detailed threads on this if you search.

Clark W Griswold

During a valve adjustment wouldn't it be painfully obvious? Is it possible for them to snap and not fall out during a valve adjustment?

myflat6

Yes that's usually true for the lowers/exhaust side. You said the valve adjustment was done in 2013 so even if they were fine then it doesn't mean they are now.

Clark W Griswold

fair point