cracked head... to use or not to use?!

[unruhjonny]

I'm going off on a tangent here, so bear with me...

The best 086 head I have located has two hairline crack in tow of the sparkplug bores...

Outside of that all the heads I have found are cracked inbetween valves... EVERY LAST ONE...

If I cannot find a good 086 core can this be repaired? - or are some people running cracked heads???

Opinions? - Thoughts?

[LargeFish]

I've heard tale of folks repairing cracks if they're not too big. I dunno though, it's such a PITA to swap the head I don't think you'd want to do it twice. I take it you can actually see the cracks, or did you only find them when the head was tested?

[gtzpower]

Yea, every 086 head I've seen has had cracks between the valves, and I was told by a machine shop that they have even seen brand new ones with cracks there. I just have it pressure tested, and if it doesn't leak, then I use it.

[unruhjonny]

Originally posted by gtzpower
Yea, every 086 head I've seen has had cracks between the valves, and I was told by a machine shop that they have even seen brand new ones with cracks there. I just have it pressure tested, and if it doesn't leak, then I use it.

I had the misfortune of ordering a head from a dismantler who assured me that all their parts were tested, and that "there are NO cracks" - I phoned them back as soon as I recieved the head, to inform them that it was cracked. They then did an immediate refund while I was on the phone and specified that I not bother to send it back to them.

I am wondering if this kind of crack is related to a spark plug at one time or another siezing in the bore (from improperr torquing).

... So brand new ones may have had cracks?? - I was actually wondering about this.

How would I attempt to see if it should seal properly off of an engine???

[gtzpower]

just ask around at some local parts stores or shops, and see if anyone knows anybody who can pressure test the head. It costed $35 at my local machine shop.

[quadswap]

If you are in the midwest, this shop can repair your cylinder head.

If it only has cracks in the spark plug area, you're lucky. The bridges between the valves make it a more spendy

086 heads without cracks are hard to locate. I have two, one's junk and the other is on the car. I bought a brand new bare 753 head off EBAY for $128. A 753 can be ported a far as an 086.


http://midwestcylinderhead.com/

[chico]

hey man i had the samething happen to me crack 3 yrs ago used it still going good

[p8ntman442]

you dont have to use an 086, try a 753 ported, I would not put a cracked head on a car, that is asking for trouble.

[fbod383]

Heads dont come with cracks in them!! LOL thats the dumbest thing I have heard in quite some time. When a quad head cracks, 9 times outa 10, thats where they crack. Dont reuse it. It will cost as much or more to repair than it would to get a good reman from www.headsonly.com. Or even look for them at www.car-part.com

[pizzaman]

Did the 086 head come on the 90 Quad4 LO?