BHG jOb

[Frank Rizzo]

I paid $451 to have my head cleaned, checked for cracks, checked for warpage, milled, valve clearance set and have an exhaust stud thread welded, retapped and helicoiled, because a previous helicoil pulled halfway out. That also included a $200 Felpro gasket set.

One of my exhaust coolant passages near cylinder 6 was eroded away, I was paranoid at first, but it held up fine. But I wouldn't try it on a MLS head gasket. Just trying to state that it can be done without welding, depending how bad it is eroded.

 

[wchico15]

i forgot to say that the machinist was saying that the head was in really bad shape. i was looking at the exhaust ports and on chamber 3 and 5 only one of the ports on each chamber are full of carbon build up and dirt but the vavles that go in those ports arent chipped,infact they have less carbon build up then some of the other valves. im going to try and find another machine shop to see if they can do the welding but as for the port and polish i'll look into that as well. what is a "MLS" headgasket? im going to be using an toyota oem headgasket.

i'll post some pics of the eroded areas,its only in two places.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

MLS= Multi Layered Steel

More commonly refered to as a MHG around here.

That would be metal head gasket.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

Here's my #6 cylinder's coolant passage, exhaust side:

 

[wchico15]

ohh ok.

my coolant passage is pretty bad heres the first pic

another area of erosion

heres the carbon build up in the port on combustion chamber 3

chamber 5

 

[Tire Shredder]

chico,

I'm no engine building expert but I can lend some advice... Until you posted pics I would have suggested getting a second opinion. However, those coolant passages do look severely damaged and the corrosion has effected the area on the head gasket surface - the achiles heel of our motors. If you are thinking about having that head repaired, which it needs to be if you use it, consider the rest of the volume of the coolant jackets that you can't see....it will be heavily corroded there too.

Used heads in good shape isn't too expensive if bought from a forum member, and you wouldn't have to have the jackets repaired, so you can remove that machine shop cost. that fully rebuilt/remanufactured head from the shop doesn't sound all that bad.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

I would say the samething^^^. Save the old one for parts.

 

[wchico15]

i see what your saying.and its true what your saying,if the surface is that eroded then what i cant see is probally worse. im going to try and see if tubbie has any used decent heads available. thanks for the input,appreciate it