So i have tried to attached two pics of the top of the 317 heads on the lq9 i am going to build to install into a 1981 off the frame resto mod but the site will not allow me because i have no "security token"?. What is bothering me is this:

passenger side of engine looks pristine for 113,000 miles while the drivers side is looks like tarnished oil although this side is also very clean as far as oil residue. Any ideas why one side is so much darker than the rest?

Thanks for your input in advance

 

My guess is the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system. It sucks fresh air in the passenger side valve cover, goes down into the oilpan and out of the drivers side valve cover into your intake. All that "tarnish" is most likely from the oil vapor.

 

Hey Sammie, welcome to LS1tech!

If you have a photobucket page, load your pictures there then insert them into your posts here using the pic icon button. Looks like:

 

Could also been a bad O2 sensor on bank-1 making it run rich on one side causing carbon build up.

 

Maybe it had a head replacement/rebuilt at one point in it's life?