I've got the distributor off because the O-ring was leaking, and I took the valve cover off to see if it looked nasty under there. The grommets were pretty much toast, so I've got to get some new ones before I start it again and drive it. PCV valve looks new, and it passes the shake and the blow/suck test (lol) although there is definitely oil dripping out of that hose.
I'm also not really pleased with the reduced diameter of the PCV hose, it seems a couple sizes too small, judging by the nipple on the first intake runner, compared to what I see of the PCV port on the 'fuel heater' in pictures.
Under the Valve Cover:
![Image](http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk201/SgtRauksauff/86Coupe/th_20160327_121634_zpsyrcozn3w.jpg)
![Image](http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk201/SgtRauksauff/86Coupe/th_20160327_121650_zpshkakjthp.jpg)
doesn't look too bad, actually.
Now that the Oil Control rings were brought up....
The PCV hose goes to intake runner for cylinder #1.
ONLY cylinder #1 had any dirty gunk at all on the spark plug.
If the PCV valve was toasted at one time, and just dumping a bunch of oil into only runner #1, would that dirty burning affect the oil control ring just in cylinder #1? As in, get it gunked-up/siezed/stuck a bit too, and exacerbate the problem?
I've read about a technique that some miata guys do to recover from stuck oil control rings that sometimes works:
Drain oil and save it, leave the oil plug out.
Put a 50/50 mix of ATF/Acetone through the spark plug hole into the combustion chamber of a warm engine, enough to just cover the piston.
Let sit for two hours, put the oil back in, drive it to see if it helped.
possibly repeat a total of three times; if no change after 3 times, time to re-ring (or change engines).
Thoughts?
I've got a spare 4AC (from an '84, straight valve cover) that I'm hoping to salvage the grommets from, and maybe even the distributor o-ring. Since this never happens until the car's really warmed up, I'm going to take off the water pump belt, open the radiator cap, and fire it up. I hope to NOT see any bubbles coming out, if they are, there is a HG problem that only occurs when it's hot enough.
Sounds like a lot of PITA work just for a lowly 4AC, but with all the other constraints on my time and money (mostly time) lately, I'm trying to get this car driveable so I can enjoy it, while getting other projects finished, so I have time to move my GT-S drivetrain into this car properly, and not in a rushed/crappy manner.
--sarge