Bare cyl. head or rebuild??

[subsonic]

I currently have a 1.9td Cyl.head that I was planning to use for my 1.6 / 1.9 build up.  The head was used, but it is still rebuildable.  My concern is that I am planning on running this on a fairly hot configuration.  As with most heads it has the cracks between the valves, bigger than the Bentley says, but still good.  It also has hair line cracks on the faces of all the pre-chambers.  Still good to go for running, or I could buy new ones and swap them out.  My concern is that I am about to sink a large chunk of cash into a build up,  much of it revolving around the head, and it is not 100%.  
I am thinking that I might want to go with a new bare cyl head.  Does anyone have any idea what these go for?   Are there different quality levels in a " OEM " head by different makers? I am sure a VW dealer could hook me up with one , but I don't feel like getting dry reamed :shock: .  
Any ideas?
Just wondering, if you coated a new cyl head in the area of the valves do you think it would prevent the cracks from forming???

[burn_your_money]

I think the coating would flake/wear off if you coated it around the vavle seats due to all the movement in the area

Call VW and ask how much 028 103 351 J is, I think that is the AAZ head

[cyrus #1]

I don't feel like getting dry reamed :shock: .

That conjures up bad mental images. :lol:

[jtanguay]

I don't feel like getting dry reamed :shock: .

That conjures up bad mental images. :lol:

lol...

then don't buy direct from the dealer.. find someone who has access to dealer parts like VDubFun (on this forum) his prices are very reasonable.

[jimfoo]

I paid $479 US for a new AAZ head with cam and valves. I got it from this place. http://cgi.ebay.com/VW-Jetta-Passat-Golf-1-9-TD-complete-cylinder-head_W0QQitemZ180081846736QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33617QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[subsonic]

So I have learned that there are multiple OEM Cyl. head makers for VW.  Who of the european ones are top end, and who should be avoided?  All are supposed to meet a standard, but I am sure some just make it and others surpass it.  I may have a good deal on a bare head, but only know it is a european vw oem maker.  Comments?

[DVST8R]

Get in touch with Dave @ Passenger Performance. I know he has a good idea on the good castings vs bad ones. Last time I was there (end of Feb.) He had like 3 brand new chinese heads that were so bad that he wouldn't even use them he was just going to cut them up and throw them out.

[jtanguay]

Get in touch with Dave @ Passenger Performance. I know he has a good idea on the good castings vs bad ones. Last time I was there (end of Feb.) He had like 3 brand new chinese heads that were so bad that he wouldn't even use them he was just going to cut them up and throw them out.

no offense to the chinese or anything, but they just mass produce all kinds of parts that have huge marketability, and low production cost.

take for example those yellow cancer bracelets... what a huge scam.  they were mass producing them for pennies and being sold for dollars.

you can expect that their quality control would consist of an examination by eye... and maybe putting one on a motor to make sure it actually works.... and that would be pretty much it.  im sorry but just making sure it 'works' just doesn't cut it!!!!  i'm sure VW would throw everything they could at it, and find its breaking point!

[jimfoo]

The one I got was made in Mexico, for what that's worth. Got to be better than China at least.

[subsonic]

Thanks, I will contact dave,  I found a guy who would sell me a new bare 1.9td head for $250 USD. He has 5

 message dated 4/7/2007 10:22:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Jim writes:
Hi, who is the maker of this head? Is it OEM or like OEM. Is this new old stock? If so , how old is it. E-bay posted a message that said you are registered on another e-bay site. What country are you located in? The discription says California.  Thanks, Jim

"the heads are made in europe  by an oem and than reboxed, they are approx 10 years old. we are in montclair, ca."

In a message dated 4/7/2007 11:19:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, JIM writes:
"Talk to me, what will you sell these for for multiple heads.  price for two,three, four, five? I might get a group buy together. I thought I have seen this listing up a while ago.  Are these the same heads or did you get more stock?
Jim

"best price is $ 250"

Just sent this one:
"Sounds good.  Do you know who the OEM maker is? I have mentioned this to some potential buyers and they all ask who made it. I cant tell them what I don't know. What is the casting code on the head? I have bought many vw parts from oem makers.  While all must meet a standard, some are just better quality.
Look forward to hearing from you.  I will pass on the info.
Jim"

[DVST8R]

Good find NOS is the way to go.