Author Topic: Cracks on the head (Read 5702 times)

sju · « **on:** October 15, 2008, 08:29:14 pm »

Ive searched and read about cracks between valves being pretty normal but when i was talking to a local shop about getting a head gasket he told me if i had a crack going from the valve to the , well i guess it would be the swirl chamber/injector chamber.. that a head is done for.. so i pulled the head off my 1.6na and i have 1 of those cracks on what would be cylinder #2..
is this repairable. or worth trying to repair. or should i try to source another head? life expectancy of a head with a crack like that?
thanks in advance..

blkboostedtruck · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2008, 08:41:20 pm »

you should search for a new head!
that one is just gonna be a problem if you keep using it !
Duane

zukgod1 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2008, 08:27:04 am »

^^^^ X2 ^^^^

jtanguay · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2008, 11:06:53 am »

cheaper alternative go to www.dieselvw.com but if you have the money, bleached bora sells kollbenschmidt heads (OEM & complete!)

with the one from dieselvw, you'd need to swap over the camshaft and lifters - if they're good. check for pitting on them and buy new ones if you see the hairline cracks.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2008, 07:33:29 pm »

my head has cracks between the valves and they went deep enough over time to fill my cooling system with pressure and i can't drive it anymore.
I bought a 1.9 aaz head from http://www.dieselvw.com as posted earlier.
cheap parts cheap prices. He has otehr useful stuff too like EGT and boost stuff
and gaskets and rings

sju · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2008, 08:19:36 pm »

so its a reliable place then?
prices seem pretty decent

jtanguay · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2008, 09:53:24 pm »

reliable isn't quite the word i would use... i mean.. i haven't seen a post yet complaining about his heads... but still... how many of his heads are out there with 100'000km+??? when we start to see the high mileage cars with his parts then the truth will unfold.

that being said, i'm not knocking him or his products. i'm just saying... nobody really has a long term analysis, and when compared to kollbenschmidt OEM heads going strong with over 400'000km it's a hard sell to die hard VW 'fans/enthusiasts'

but who has the $$$ to dish out on OEM stuff? some of that stuff is soooo expensive! piston sets for about $200?? OEM are double that! for stock performance, i believe these pistons to be just as good. it's people like prothe that will bring an edge to the market by providing an alternative. right now most VW parts manufacturers of diesel equipment have a monopoly.

so the choice is ultimately up to the one who has to pay the bills. you can even ask jim-foo about his head and ask him what he thinks of it.

gldgti · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2008, 04:07:36 am »

my dad has one of his heads on his 1.5 na. its done over 120,000km so far... so good ;-)

sju · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2008, 09:16:53 am »

your right.. i personally dont have tons of cash to drop into this right now.. with oem prices, its almost easier for me to look for an entire car, and steal what i need off it than to purchase parts and build it up.

btw, this block i have was out of a 84 jetta, and i pulled it to replace the 1.5 in my 1980 caddy.

as always i appreciate how helpful and informative you all are.

jtanguay · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2008, 09:57:16 am »

Quote from: "gldgti"

my dad has one of his heads on his 1.5 na. its done over 120,000km so far... so good ;-)

thats good to hear!!! any performance mods to it or just bone stock?

zukgod1 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2008, 10:00:48 am »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

Quote from: "gldgti"
my dad has one of his heads on his 1.5 na. its done over 120,000km so far... so good ;-)

thats good to hear!!! any performance mods to it or just bone stock?

I was VERY tempted to buy one when I broke the injector boss this last time around.
If anyone could test one for durability I'll bet it would be me... :twisted:

I have another TD engine I'm going to tear into here soon i hope and if the head is bad I may very well try one. But then again bleachedbora is maybe 15 miles from my house with OE heads in stock.

BleachedBora · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:13:03 pm »

*twiddles thumbs*
There are plenty of heads available at the moment

.

zukgod1 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:20:16 pm »

HA!! See ^^^^^^^^^^^^