Ok, so the catch can is roughly 1/3 full since fitting it before my last post. I was at full oil 2 weeks ago and was just above minimum on the dipstick yesterday.

I'm using Valvoline 15w-40 oil. Getting blue smoke taking off at lights and smoking on startup. If I rev it straight away it spits oil out of the exhaust (so I assume oil dropping onto pistons from worn valve seals). At this stage I'm thinking of just dropping it into a shop for a leakdown test.

So, what do you guys think? compression test won't reveal much except the overall state of the motor I suppose.. leakdown obviously will show if it's valves/rings/gaskets. With access to two 1.8 8v's for sale at low price (and even a 1.8T for $500), should I just throw one in and risk having a new set of issues to deal with down the road? Just find out what's wrong on my JH and have the peace of mind of knowing it's condition as time goes on? Find out what's missing for the 1.8T convert and piece it together while running the JH with some compression repair additives?

Sorry to continue to be a hassle lads, the woes of mk1 ownership aye?

If anyone in melb has any of these that I could borrow for a day, it'd be a huge help!

air compressor
compression tester
leakdown tester
valve spring compressor
stem seal plier