QUOTE(914ltd @ Jan 6 2011, 08:11 PM)
When shopping for heads, watch out for:
Broken bosses around the guides, these can cause the new guides to go in
crooked, valve alignment problems and seats cut off center. This can make an
otherwise good head junk.
Broken exhaust studs are not usually a big problem, it seems attempts to repair
them usually are.
Exhaust port sealing surfaces can be damaged by attempts to hammer out the
copper seal rings. FYI pry them out with a sharp straight blade screwdriver
contacting the edge of the copper ring inside the port. This works every time!
Spark plug cracks are scary but as long as the crack is short and not curved down
to the exhaust seat, you can use them. I mostly have them welded but I have
added a TimeSert for the plug threads and have not had problems. If you have
the crack welded, make sure some extra material is added on either side of the
plug or it will crack again.
Broken or cracked cooling fins.
Valve seats that have had too many or bad cuts will end up with the valves
"pocketed" poor air flow, extra shims under the springs to maintain seat
pressure and changed geometry for the rocker arms. The seats will need to be
replaced by an air cooled expert machinist.
Pitting in the combustion chambers and intake ports from water setting in the
engine.
Overcutting the head seal surface to raise compression or cutting for larger
cylinders.
Unfortunately the majority of 2.0 heads, now 36 or more years old have at least one of the above problems. Buy carefully! Brad
Heads up Brad, thanks for the useful information. I can see the prices are varying a lot, from 150 to 500$ per head. I hope i can find some useful heads in the 400-500 dollar area. Maybe yours