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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: JKnowledge on June 26, 2006, 07:53:15 am

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: JKnowledge on June 26, 2006, 07:53:15 am

I pulled the head off the 1.6L in my caddy on Saturday to replace what I thought was a blown head gasket, only to find that the head is cracked between the valves on all 4 cylinders. I have sourced an entire engine/trans/injection pump locally, but it has been sitting for 16 years. It has been in storage, not out in the elements, but I was wondering what parts\seals\gaskets. I should go ahead and replace before I drop it in the truck.

I did a search, but didn't come up with the information I am looking for.

Thanks.

Jeff

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: zooky on June 26, 2006, 09:15:01 am

cracks are normal, how bad are they?

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: JKnowledge on June 26, 2006, 11:35:15 am

They are from valve to valve, all four cylinders. I will take pics when I get home this afternoon. Thanks for the Reply!

Title: Pics of Problem Cylinders
Post by: JKnowledge on June 26, 2006, 03:10:59 pm

Here are the three worste cracks.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/jknowledge/06_26_06012.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/jknowledge/06_26_06011.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/jknowledge/06_26_06009.jpg)


Is this head usable? I would have thought because of the location of the cracks, the compression would be way off. I don't have a high pressure compression guage to tell, though.

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: tylernt on June 26, 2006, 05:43:36 pm

Cracks between valves are very common and are harmless unless they penetrate to the water jacket. The steel valve seats are not normally affected by the cracks in the aluminum head, so compression is usually not affected.

There have been some folks that have welded the cracks, but I would only consider it worth if if you were pushing the limits on a turbo diesel. For a N/A, why bother.

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: tylernt on June 26, 2006, 05:49:41 pm

Here is a cross section of a crack, FYI:
(http://www.vwdiesel.net/picserv/redrotors/pre3.jpg)

So, they're usually harmless.

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: JKnowledge on June 26, 2006, 06:11:01 pm

Thanks for the info!!  I guess I'll just get a new gasket and bolt set and put it back together!

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: hillfolk'r on June 26, 2006, 07:39:56 pm

yea thats "normal" i think the bently says somethin about cracks no wider than .020 thou,but its kinda hard to measure it accuratly,throw a new gasket+bolts+stuff at er and run er

Title: Cracks in head OK?
Post by: fspGTD on June 28, 2006, 11:41:53 pm

Moved to troubleshooting.  IDI engine is for power enhancement related discussion only.