What is "repairable damage" on a stock LT1 Head?

[femurphy77]

I just finished pulling the heads off my new toy, this was after finally getting it started, quick valve adjust, top off the radiator, restart the car and steam clean the inside of my garage. Cylinders 3 and 5 actually had water pour out when I pulled the plugs, some of the others appeared to have condensation on the plugs but am not sure. Anyway I pulled the heads and its obvious where 3 and 5 were blowing by to each other. I am assuming that the water came from a crack around the center headbolt in the upper row. Both heads suffer the same crack but the passenger side didn't appear to be blowing by. The question is; is this a repairable issue or not? I suspect I'll be better off in the long run just replacing the heads. The oil looks good just judging from whats on the dipstick, I'm going to drain it in a little while but it doesn't appear that any coolant made it's way into the oil. So lets hear some opinions on the head cracks, thanks. And I still think I get the better end of this deal.

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

I would have someone Magna-flux the heads to find out where the cracks are...and If they are cracked I would just replace them with like heads...I would look on eBay for another set of good heads if needed....
I would hope that the problem is just a blown head gasket....

Just my thoughts
Mike

 

[G Winter]

Check the cylinders for scores and ring ridge. If the heads are cracked and this engine has lots of miles you might be best off getting a crate motor or a rebuild. If it was hot enough to crack the heads the pistons and cyl. may be damaged. About the time you put new heads on you may find out you have an oil burner and lots of blowby.

 

[Edmond]

I second the suggestion for the Magnaflux of the heads; the cost will be well worth it.

If it is determined that the stock heads aren't salvagable, go with some high performance heads. Or you can get a set of stock heads and have them worked to your liking. Try www.vette2vette.com and see what Jason wants for a set of heads. He's not too far away (few miles west of Joliet, Illinois) so shipping won't be too bad.

 

[redc4corvette]

This I have to see Magnaflux the heads???????????
If you own a corvette and it's an Lt1 I gota hear more on this one.
Junk the heads and get new ones if they are cracked? They are cheap and should not cost more than about $500.00 dollars and that would be high.
Flux the block,That would work.

 

[femurphy77]

How about "nonferrousflux"

I got a giggle out of that one myself but knew what he was talking about. I have already purchased a set of rebuilt, ready to run heads off Evil Bay and hopefully they will be on the car by saturday. There is no ridge in the cylinders and they aren't scored so I'm not to afraid of the short block. For now it will have to suffice. Until I have reduced the number of toys in the shop I'll be throttling back on further expenditures. Thanks all. FM, Indy

 

[89z51l98]

I'm just curious if you determined what had happened to the engine? Did it just get hot and the heads cracked?

I got a giggle out of that one myself but knew what he was talking about. I have already purchased a set of rebuilt, ready to run heads off Evil Bay and hopefully they will be on the car by saturday. There is no ridge in the cylinders and they aren't scored so I'm not to afraid of the short block. For now it will have to suffice. Until I have reduced the number of toys in the shop I'll be throttling back on further expenditures. Thanks all. FM, Indy

 

[femurphy77]

The only thing that I can come up with is that somebody did a valve job somewhere in the past and they reused the old head bolts. Several of them "felt" loose when I removed them and I found one had actually been broken off in the block. This wasn't the site of the cracks though. I don't think it was an issue of overheating, just cheaping out on the valve job. I've already purchased a new set of heads and will pick up new head bolts and gaskets to put it back together. I may be overly optimistic but I think this will come out well in the end. Frank, Indy