Who can i send my T4 heads to, Len does not want to rebuild anymore Options

[jsayre914]

I just got a email from Len Hoffman today. He is focused on producing new Heads, not rebuilding used ones anymore (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Every time i do a search, it always leads to LEN. Who can I send my 2.0 heads to now?? I need to get on this 2056 build.

any other recomendations???

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[RoadGlue]

There are still usable used 2.0 castings out there. Sure, some need work, but that's always been the case with the 2.0 heads. My local machinist (a very close friend) has been working with Porsche and VW aircooled heads for the better part of my life and I trust him to be able to look at my parts and determine if they're destined for the scrap pile or if they have life left in them.

I understand that it's usually easier and likely more rewarding for the machinist to work with a clean new casting, but can someone explain why the old castings are ticking time bombs? I can see that a head that's been surfaced or rebuilt too many times simply can't be rebuilt to spec and should be considered scrap, but an unmolested head can be reliably rebuilt.

There are a lot of air cooled cars that are much older than 914s that are still running around reliably on the road with original heads castings. The cost of new heads takes the FUN out of rebuilding a T4 motor. Compared to the cost of what the cars are going for, it just doesn't add up to spend 2k for T4 heads. Obviously that's my opinion, but I'm sticking to it. This car has many lures and the fact that it's still relatively inexpensive to work on is one of the bigger ones.

My 2 cents,

[Jake Raby]

I understand that it's usually easier and likely more rewarding for the machinist to work with a clean new casting, but can someone explain why the old castings are ticking time bombs?

Because they have been heat cycled millions of times, overheated thousands of times and generally have had very little attention from anyone that has a clue about the TIV engine since they were new.

When I went to 100% new heads 6 years ago it had NOTHING to do with how clean or dirty the heads were or what was easier to work with. I based it on the fact that we were using the most critical, hottest running portion of the engine and asking it to perform in even a more demanding fashion three decades after it was new.

Replacing and updating all the components around the heads but not replacing their castings didn't make much sense to me and it still doesn't. It was a different story when the cars were only a few years old, maybe two decades old, but now most every head has a crack, has been on an engine thats blown up, has stripped exhaust studs or broken fins.

I can see that a head that's been surfaced or rebuilt too many times simply can't be rebuilt to spec and should be considered scrap, but an unmolested head can be reliably rebuilt.

I once heard Len tell someone "If I had a dollar for every virgin TIV head I have encountered I couldn't even buy a sandwich with the money". That is very true and I'll say the same thing. In the majority of situations heads are thought to be good but once they are stripped, cleaned and have a trained eye check them out the story is generally much different.

There are a lot of air cooled cars that are much older than 914s that are still running around reliably on the road with original heads castings.

How many of those engines are still producing the original amount of power they did when new? How many are making 50% more power? How many are being asked to participate in endurance style competition with elevated head temps? How many are being applied to engines that are not perfectly tuned?

The cost of new heads takes the FUN out of rebuilding a T4 motor.

But that cost is required if you want to make the engine worthy of any type of expenditure. Some things in life are required. Spend the money now or spend more money and waste more time later.

Compared to the cost of what the cars are going for, it just doesn't add up to spend 2k for T4 heads.

Tell that to the 44 people that made the leap last year and purchased these heads. In fact over time the amount of 914 enthusiasts that are willing to spend this amount of money for proper cylinder heads has increased over the past few years. In times past our conversion engines and sales have been higher than 914, but now the 914 is finally seeing the investment that it deserves.

Obviously that's my opinion, but I'm sticking to it. This car has many lures and the fact that it's still relatively inexpensive to work on is one of the bigger ones.

These engines and cars aren't inexpensive to work with.. You can restore a Corvette for less than a 914 done properly.

Thats my 2 cents and I live, eat and breathe these cars and engines and have for the past two decades.

As Len and I have stated, since his desire to rebuild core heads has gone away we are working toward the ability to provide higher volumes of production heads developed for lower performance/ stockish engines for less money. The volume of sales we have will determine just how much these new offerings will sale for. At the same time we are working to keep these units IN STOCK for immediate delivery and that will be implemented some time in the spring.

Its pretty simple.. If you want a car to look pretty and you don't plan on driving it then the expenditure for a properly outfitted engine is less of a concern. I don't know many people that have a 914 for any other reason than to drive it. Our goal is to produce engines, components and sub-systems that allow the vintage car to be driven EVERY DAY in any climate and be effective. We also don't recommend that our purchasers have AAA coverage to cover their break downs, because they won't be needing it.

This post has been edited by Jake Raby: Jan 26 2010, 04:22 PM

[Chris Hamilton]

We also don't recommend that our purchasers have AAA coverage to cover their break downs, because they won't be needing it.

That must be one hell of an engine if it keeps me from getting nails in my tires (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

I know that isn't what you meant but everyone with a 914 should have AAA. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)