Cylinder Heads, And the replacement thereof... Options

[Nozzle]

Well it looks like it's time for another rebuild on my engine and the current plan is to do a 2056 D-jet build based around the Raby 9590 cam kit from The Type IV Store. I wanted to get some prices for machine work to bring the heads up to snuff as they have well over 200K miles worth of heat cycles on them. So far it seems the costs range from $450 for a basic rebuild of the pair from Rimco to $2700 from The Type IV Store for their tasty 914 2.0 replacement RS+ heads. Needless to say that's quite a range and this is my first engine build so I'm unsure how to proceed.

Although I can stretch the budget for the RS heads, it just means the build will take much longer as that accounts for the lion's share of my original budget. So my question to the forum is, what would you do in my position and why?

Thanks,

John

[lonewolfe]

Here's another option for brand new heads for considerably less money than the others you mentioned. Now, I know that the HAM heads are fantastic by all accounts but they are also super expensive. DRD Racing Heads is well known and has a very good reputation in the VW world so I would consider them as another good option for a Type IV motor. They've been around for years. Like HAM, these heads are based on brand new AMC castings from Spain.

http://www.drdracingheads.com/xcart/Type-4...-and-Parts.html

[Jake Raby]

Here's another option for brand new heads for considerably less money than the others you mentioned. Now, I know that the HAM heads are fantastic by all accounts but they are also super expensive. DRD Racing Heads is well known and has a very good reputation in the VW world so I would consider them as another good option for a Type IV motor. They've been around for years. Like HAM, these heads are based on brand new AMC castings from Spain.

http://www.drdracingheads.com/xcart/Type-4...-and-Parts.html

You are not comparing apples to apples. The heads that you linked are nothing more than new AMC castings using AMC hardware, valves, seats and guides.

The quality of those components is sub-marginal and routinely fail. The "Expensive HAM Heads" feature all upgraded hardware, to include valve seats. The AMC heads that HAM creates are basically "reconstructed" right out of the box, hence their costs.

I have had AMC supplied hardware fail, and when it occurred we stopped using it altogether and replaced the components with our own/ HAM. Last year we literally threw away two 55 gallon drums of valves, springs and etc from new AMC heads that were pulled to be replaced. The castings are great, the hardware is horrible.

I just wanted to set the record straight and point out that the comparison wasn't accurate at all. I will also state that I have worked with DRD and the very first pair of T4 heads they ever created were for me. I am speaking from experience from both providers.

You will get exactly what you pay for.... Or it may take you a year to get something that you were promised in two weeks or months, or you may never receive what you bought at all. Google is your friend.

[ThePaintedMan]

I have had AMC supplied hardware fail, and when it occurred we stopped using it altogether and replaced the components with our own/ HAM. Last year we literally threw away two 55 gallon drums of valves, springs and etc from new AMC heads that were pulled to be replaced. The castings are great, the hardware is horrible.

Hey Jake,

Just out of curiosity, have you or Len ever considered buying just the blank castings from AMC in bulk and putting your own hardware in them? Perhaps knocking some of the of cost down and saving (a little) work, and then reselling them? AMC seems like they're on the right track, they just need a little experience from experts.

[Dave_Darling]

Just out of curiosity, have you or Len ever considered buying just the blank castings from AMC in bulk and putting your own hardware in them?

I talked to AMC at SEMA one year, shortly after they started importing their heads. They would not sell the heads bare--I couldn't get a reason why out of them, but they simply would not sell the heads without hardware.

--DD