When is a crack between the valves too much

[Turbulence]

Here is the head I am considering. It was on a running car and had no issues. Cylinders 1 and 4 have cracks.

It's either this head or the turbo G head on the Horizon now. The G head is in better shape. Last time I had it off it was anyway. Sort of figued I'd go swirl this time as it is easier to tune. On the other hand, the car has done fine so far with the G head on an early 90's unknown mileage TBI block with TBI internals



Martin
89 Horizon

[bakes]

Normal.

[Ubmbass]

agreed

[1966 dart wagon]

I have a head on my car that has 2 cylinders cracked that much, runs fine.

[Spraynlog]

I've run heads that looked like that, but the best way to tell is to have it pressure checked.

[Turbulence]

Thanks folks,




Darn....now I have to decide which one I want to use.....

Martin
89 Horizon

[2.216VTurbo]

Every time I've had a head with cracks like that pressure checked, it's been fine. I'm struck by the core shift in that head though The fire ring of the HG is right up to one edge of the chamber but on the other side there's like 3/32"

[Darkapollo]

Yep 100% normal. Freaked me out first time I saw one like that too.

[turbovanman²]

Dodge even released a bulletin about it, its so normal its normal.

Still people get scammed by it, I've bought a few TD's because people were told the head was cracked and junk, so they said screw it and sold the car/van,

[Shadow]

Every time I've had a head with cracks like that pressure checked, it's been fine. I'm struck by the core shift in that head though The fire ring of the HG is right up to one edge of the chamber but on the other side there's like 3/32"

x2 I once heard of someone who actually had one checked and it leaked, but I've never experianced that myself.

[jamesmonty]

Had a machine shop tell me mine wasn't worth fixing but they could get me a brand new casting for $300. Said no thanks, took my head back and its been running fine ever since.

[Juggy]

maybe im lucky, but I got 5 or 6 heads here and not a single one has a crack between the valves

cracks r fine....its when you see the crack start to shift, you will run into problems. when it does this it will start to leak coolant, and you will be able to tell because you will see the little stain from the antifreeze/water and it will look like its trying to get rusty

[turbovanman²]

x2 I once heard of someone who actually had one checked and it leaked, but I've never experianced that myself.

Weird, someone posted up a pic of one cut apart, its really thick in that area, hard to leak coolant.

[cordes]

Every time I've had a head with cracks like that pressure checked, it's been fine. I'm struck by the core shift in that head though The fire ring of the HG is right up to one edge of the chamber but on the other side there's like 3/32"

Aren't the all like that?

[shelbymonster]

my daytona original head is cracked in 1-2-3-4 and no leak yet

[Turbulence]

Wow, lots of responses, thanks. I think I'll start with that head and try it out. Easier to tune then the G head. Although given the car is an L body and relatively light, I don't need all the torque. We shall see, bottom end is being prepped.

Martin
89 Horizon

[Shadowv4l]

Both my 2.2liter and my 3.0liter have cracks between the valves on all the cylinders, the 3.0liter even has 180,000 miles and runs like a champ!

[boost geek]

maybe im lucky, but I got 5 or 6 heads here and not a single one has a crack between the valves

cracks r fine....its when you see the crack start to shift, you will run into problems. when it does this it will start to leak coolant, and you will be able to tell because you will see the little stain from the antifreeze/water and it will look like its trying to get rusty

You have all G heads? I've only seen the cracks in swirls.

[mock_glh]

I have a G head that has a crack between the valves that leaked into the exhaust port below the seat.

[butchsuppe]

There's no water jacket between the valve's on a swirl until 1/2 way up the port. Check this out.....http://www.pbase.com/rmscott/8v_782_head_cut_away