Oh man, I hate hearing this. I feel sorry for you.
All that money, all that time.
When I first got on here I used to laugh at the constant chant: "Leak test, Plug chop", but I really get it now.
So many blow ups, and they could have been avoided with a $25 tester and $10 worth of plugs.
Saving that $35 is the worst decision you will ever make.
Yup, I did it too. Hey, I put new seals in, or I eyeballed them and they weren't that old. I was careful with the gaskets, whatever my excuses.
I was a good mechanic and got by, I knew about leak testing and did it when I had a problem with a hunting idle.
I did jetting by feel and peering down into the insulator. I was pretty good at it (I thought), but I did melt a couple pistons over the years.
Leak test, plug chop. That is the answer. $35 saves you HUNDREDS OF $$$.
Steve