Need advice - 96 Cobra in shop

[RENDRAG]

Check Engine light came on, so I took my 96 stock Cobra into the dealer. Just 80,000 miles. I only drive to work and back, never driven it very hard, well maybe a couple of times. Turns out there was no compression on a couple of cylinders. They have the engine out and will send the left head off for a valve job. Glad I bought the kicker warranty. Won't cost me much. My question is, should I have them send the right head off also? The cost to me would be about $750. My personal thought is that this should last a lot longer than 80,000. Am I at a higher risk having them mess with the right side or should I have them do it just because? Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

While the engine is out, which is a must to get the heads off, yes do the other side too. If they want to charge a little more, because that side doesn't have low compression ask them how much extra it is. If you are going to keep the car, do it. The upper end will be all freshened up and should feel like a new car.

 

[BurningRubber]

Send it off, your gonna have the left side of the engine with perfect compression, and the right side with whatever your compression numbers are after almost 90k.. Motor is out now, do it while you can.

 

[5.0's 4 ever]

While the engine is out, which is a must to get the heads off

Actually its not, you can remove the cylinder heads without pulling the engine.
If you plan on keeping the car, get the other head done while everything is still apart.

 

[RENDRAG]

Thanks everyone. I went ahead and had them do both sides. Now, I'm just waiting to get it back.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Actually its not, you can remove the cylinder heads without pulling the engine.
If you plan on keeping the car, get the other head done while everything is still apart.

I would like to see that one.

 

[5.0's 4 ever]

What so hard to picture about it. Ford wants you to remove the engine on just about any of their 4.6 and 5.4 vehicles when pulling a cylinder head. You can do a navigator 4v head in car and I find that engine compartment to be more confined than a mustang. I would rather personally not do a head swap in car on a 4v mustang because I can have the trans off and the engine out of the car in little over an hour. But yes you can pull the cylinder heads off with the engine still in the car.