[jct911s]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm looking at all options and I have considered an upgrade to 3.0 or 3.2 engine. I've checked the web sites of a few wrecking yards in Ca. However, by now all of them are 20+ years old and will cost $4k and up, and with my luck the one I'd get would need a rebuild six months after I buy it. The economics of that choice didn't seem to add up when the 2.7 can be rebuilt to deliver 200 HP, which is all I'm after.

This 2.7 engine did not have any pulled studs at 68K when the heads were rebuilt. All exhaust studs were replaced with Dilavar (sp?) at that time, which now seem out of favor now but that was eight years ago. It runs cool, rarely exceeding 180. Most of the recommended mods have been made, and overall it runs well once warmed up.

But, the other evidence of needing rings is the amount of oil consumption (a quart every 300 miles or so). The leakdown test was performed twice on the two bad cylinders, and both times the results were >90% loss. You could hear the air escaping into the oil tank.

I hope my wife can stand the sight of blood, 'cuz I think my wallet is in for some serious hemorraging.