We've had HEAVY white/blue smoke and MAJOR oil consumption for some time without changing the valve seals, but the car ran fine with no major problems. For less than a week, we have been experiencing a major problem that we attribute to a complete failure of one or more of the valve seals.
The car now makes a constant valve chatter or clicking sound ONLY when in gear and accelerating. When the transaxle is in PARK or NEUTRAL, no valve chatter or clicking is heard, even when the gas pedal is pressed.
The valve chatter and clicking is accompanied by a MAJOR loss in power. The car usually stalls when coming to a stop. When coming to a stop light, the transaxle must be shifted to neutral, and the gas predal pressed, to keep the engine from shutting off. To move the car again, we shift the transaxle to first gear, then FLOOR the gas pedal. If the gas pedal is not floored immediately after the transaxle is shifted into gear, the car will stall. Then the car moves at a snails pace, especially when going uphill, until some momentum builds up.
If valve seals completely burn away, what parts are slamming together to make the valve chatter or clicking sound while accelerating? Is the valve chatter and clicking caused by the fact that keepers, spring retainers, springs, and spring seats are loose without the oil seal, so when accelerating they vibrate against each other? Are the valve guides affected by a valve seal that has been completely burned away? Can replacing just the valve seals alone solve this problem? Do additional parts need to be replaced?
Or, is a rebuilt head the best option? If so, where is the best place to buy a rebuilt cylinder head and how much does it cost?