well...funny you mention the head clearance issue and the updated head gasket....I had just put a new head gasket on that horrible day...and I noticed that the head gasket made the head sit a small bit taller....my dad and I looked at each other and figured we would compression test and vac. test it...

thanks for the offer herbert....but i am going to be selling/trading what i have left for a 91 or similar...
i've been hunting all day....and night...havent made much progress but i'm waiting for something to fall into my lap.......hopefully...
-chris

thanks for the input guys....I have though long and hard and I want to trade what I have now for a decent 91...I have spoken with a couple of very very kind people that are offering me options and plan on getting an engine back on the kart ASAP...Thanks again to everyone and hope to get it resolved ...

yea...i should have torn it all down when i got it...but everything looked so good and it ran great for a month now with a few minor issues... but yea it sent the rod through the back of the enngine...the piston is toast but it slid out the top and the rings still have spring to them so i guess that...

Just posted over on vintagekarts.com....but figured I repost here...sorry for those who have already seen the post... So I have only had the kart about 8 months and spent all winter troubleshooting and tuning my Invader with a MC101b...got luck on my first kart big time...now I'm spoiled... Today we...

awesome input guys!! Used the autolite 411 and turned it over by hand...didnt hear or feel any contact but i know that the piston head probably travels 1/8'' more when turning high revs...so rather than pulling the head I counted the threads...the 411 had the correct number as the previous j9c was o...

wow...thanks again dave...ur the man!!
-chris

hey all...new to karting...i have done tons of reading and just a small amount of playing...so my new 'issue' is finding the correct plug for my MC101b...I have found conflicting reports on this but have it narrowed down to the autolite 411 and the champion j8j...the heat difference i can understand...