Aluminum head dings above cylinder- Repairable?

What is podcasting?

Hello Guest

• Login
• Register…
• Start blog

• Who, Where, When
• What is interesting here?
• Duels

• Polls
• Avatars
• Interests

• Cities and Countries
• Random blog
• Users search

• Search
• Games
• Tests
• CarGuru

• Сообщества
• Talxy Chat
• Horoscope
• Online

CarGuru > Technology > Aluminum head dings above cylinder- Repairable? 19 March 2005 02:14:50

Recent blog posts:

95 mirage
I have a 95 mirage and this is the second time the injector in number 3 cylinder has gone bad. Anything…

1988 Ford F-150 Truck
I would like to remove the pollution control system from my 1988 F-150, 4.9L I6 300 4x4. Can anyone…

my 99 M chrysler has started to…
my 99 M chrysler has started to cool and then starts to give off heat in the ac vents and then cool…

dodge 2000 intrepid
bought this car right off the show room floor in Bartow fl to this date I have not had any work done on…

starting issue, 2002 dodge…
My 2002 Dodge Caravan wouldn't crank. I tested some things, replaced the battery. After installing the…

;-)
;-)

stereo pin
I put a new battery in my girl friends 94 900 and it wants a code for the radio. There is nothing in the…

Coolant temp on Saturn Sky
I just purchased a 2007 Saturn Sky Redline. As I was driving yesterday I happen to have the info set on…

Saturn Sky Red Line
I just purchased a 2007 Saturn Sky Redline. I noticed will driving yesterday that when I turned on the…

Que pour la place trange
Que pour la place trange

They have birthday today:

Esther

all >>

Forums:

topic feeds

• CarGuru all topics, blogs and comments

• Driving

• Formula-1

• Indycar

• Nascar

• Other sport

• Technology

• 4 x 4

• Volkswagen

• Mercedes

• Acura

• Alfa-romeo

• Audi

• BMW

• Chrysler

• Dodge

• Ford

• General Motors

• Jeep Willys

• Honda

• Hyundai

• Mazda

• Nissan

• Peugeot

• Pontiac

• Porsche

• Saab

• Saturn

• Toyota

• Volvo

• Buy / Sell

• Open discussion

• Anonymous

Discuss:

Ask How To Replace Headlight…
I would like to know the following about changing the headlight bulb(s) on a 1992 Toyota Corolla 4-door…

Re: Transmission shudder when…
"150milesperday" <dionfluttert@gmail.com> wrote in message…

Mitsubishi Diamante ECU faults…
Could someone please direct me to where I can find the meaning of ECU error codes on a 94 Mitsu…

98 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems
I have 2 separate (I think) problems with my 98 Grand Caravan. Problem #1 The first one started 8…

Re: 1997 "mercury sable"…
Ouch is taht easy to get to or do I have to rip the whole colum appart to get at it? any test point's I…

Recent forum topics:

Brake Lights won't work
brake lights on 1996 Grand Am won't work. Fuse and lights are fine. Suggestions?

honda civic 87 model problem
i would like some information on why my honda civic wont start at times after its hot when running it…

mazda premacy glowplug lights…
i have a mazda premacy 2litre diesel . have a problem at the moment ,glowplug light flashing with loss…

I have a 96 chrysler new york…
I have a 96 chrysler new york lhs but no owners manuel and on the message center there is a light that i…

Recent forum comments:

RE: turn signal problams
Try a new flasher because it's cheaper. If that doesn't work then you probably need a new turn signal…

RE: stuck hatchback
just my latch is stuck and the door wont close on my 2000 sub outback limited

RE: stuck hatchback
on the rear gate that is

RE: 2001 PT Cruiser Problems??????
lor

RE: Re: Road test - DMV is cracked
Well, I passed on the 4th roadtest. The examiner said I should have passed it the first time. I have…

RE: Still trying to find an NB…
Anon wrote: I got the real thing last year for $55 from Trussville Mazda…

RE: Re: 1996 neon problems.. :(
no spark

RE: Re: Transmission shudder when…
I can feel something like a kick when I first hit the gas pedal when I take off.

RE: Re: Transmission shudder when…
who are you speaking to

RE: How to duplicate Navtech CD’s
where can i buy nav cd's for a 2003 s class mercedes also the latest version for a 2005 sl?

Модератор:

Administrator


Aluminum head dings above cylinder- Repairable?
Joe S 10 March 2005 03:05:05
	Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call gashes. Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-; I'm thinking that either it can be left alone and will run okay, or have the dings smoothed out a bit, or maybe it's possible to fill gashes in some way (forgive my ignorance as to whether a shop can typically weld aluminum to fill) or whether I just have to find a replacement head? Obviously, if this head is repairable, it'll get valve job too. This is on a 94 Merc Tracer aka Ford Escort. I don't want to spend alot of dough...it's just a utility vehicle with alot of miles and I'd like to get another 20k miles (or more) out of it for cheap. TIA, Joe
		Add comment


Comboverfish 10 March 2005 03:41:20 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote:> Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide> disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple> hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call> gashes.> Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I> should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-;> I'm thinking that either it can be left alone and will run okay, or> have the dings smoothed out a bit, or maybe it's possible to fill> gashes in some way (forgive my ignorance as to whether a shop can> typically weld aluminum to fill) or whether I just have to find a> replacement head? Obviously, if this head is repairable, it'll get> valve job too.> This is on a 94 Merc Tracer aka Ford Escort. I don't want to spend alot> of dough...it's just a utility vehicle with alot of miles and I'd like> to get another 20k miles (or more) out of it for cheap.> TIA,> Joe The debris may be a cracked spark plug insulator that flew around in the cylinder and broke into many smaller pieces. They can crack when a small coolant leak hits the hot spark plug. The resulting dings in your combustion chamber create many sharp edges that could get excessively hot and cause preignition. Perhaps the shop could bead blast the chamber surface before doing necessary valve seat and guide work. That would be an acceptable repair for fairly low cost. Toyota MDT in MO
		Add comment


Joe S 10 March 2005 09:25:04 [ permanent link ]
	Comboverfish wrote:> Joe S wrote:> Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide>>disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple>>hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call>>gashes.>> Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I>>should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-;>> I'm thinking that either it can be left alone and will run okay, or>>have the dings smoothed out a bit, or maybe it's possible to fill>>gashes in some way (forgive my ignorance as to whether a shop can>>typically weld aluminum to fill) or whether I just have to find a>>replacement head? Obviously, if this head is repairable, it'll get>>valve job too.>> This is on a 94 Merc Tracer aka Ford Escort. I don't want to spend> alot> of dough...it's just a utility vehicle with alot of miles and I'd> like> to get another 20k miles (or more) out of it for cheap.>> TIA,>> The debris may be a cracked spark plug insulator that flew around in> the cylinder and broke into many smaller pieces. They can crack when a> small coolant leak hits the hot spark plug.> The resulting dings in your combustion chamber create many sharp edges> that could get excessively hot and cause preignition. Perhaps the shop> could bead blast the chamber surface before doing necessary valve seat> and guide work. That would be an acceptable repair for fairly low> cost.> Toyota MDT in MO> The source of the debris has been identified. As soon as I pulled the valve, it was clear that the valve seat insert had broken apart. See picture. http://www.gone2maui.com/Pictures/HeadDamage_1.jpg What do you think of the messed-up head? Are we talking salvage yard here? -- Joe
		Add comment


Brian 10 March 2005 17:06:11 [ permanent link ]
	If you didn't have access to another head you could polish off the high bits, blend it it and have slightly lower compression in that cylinder. I've done that on heads that were somewhat irreplaceable and had no issues at all with the "repair". But the cost of putting in a new valve seat and a valve job is probably a lot higher than the cost of putting on a used head. Brian "Joe S" <mej0j0@verizon.net> wrote in message news:QSQXd.33161$uc.10822@trnddc09...> Comboverfish wrote:>> Joe S wrote:>> Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide>>>disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple>>>hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call>>>gashes.>>> Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I>>>should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-;>>> I'm thinking that either it can be left alone and will run okay, or>>>have the dings smoothed out a bit, or maybe it's possible to fill>>>gashes in some way (forgive my ignorance as to whether a shop can>>>typically weld aluminum to fill) or whether I just have to find a>>>replacement head? Obviously, if this head is repairable, it'll get>>>valve job too.>>> This is on a 94 Merc Tracer aka Ford Escort. I don't want to spend>> alot>> of dough...it's just a utility vehicle with alot of miles and I'd>> like>> to get another 20k miles (or more) out of it for cheap.>>> TIA,>>> The debris may be a cracked spark plug insulator that flew around in>> the cylinder and broke into many smaller pieces. They can crack when a>> small coolant leak hits the hot spark plug.>> The resulting dings in your combustion chamber create many sharp edges>> that could get excessively hot and cause preignition. Perhaps the shop>> could bead blast the chamber surface before doing necessary valve seat>> and guide work. That would be an acceptable repair for fairly low>> cost.>> Toyota MDT in MO>> The source of the debris has been identified. As soon as I pulled the > valve, it was clear that the valve seat insert had broken apart. See > picture.> http://www.gone2maui.com/Pictures/HeadDamage_1.jpg> What do you think of the messed-up head? Are we talking salvage yard here?> -- > Joe
		Add comment


Hls 10 March 2005 17:36:31 [ permanent link ]
	http://www.gone2maui.com/Pictures/HeadDamage_1.jpg> What do you think of the messed-up head? Are we talking salvage yard here?> --> Joe I would not use any JB Weld, plastic aluminum, etc...That would not hold up under the conditions inside the chamber. As long as the head isn't cracked, I believe you can smoothe it out and live with it, since you don't want to spend much money on it. It is really hard to tell, from the photo, how extensive the damage is....it may be largely cosmetic.
		Add comment


Steve 10 March 2005 19:26:24 [ permanent link ]
	After seeing the photo, I'd head straight to a salvage yard and look for a head. You're going to have the expense of a new valve seat insert already, and the gouging is clearly enough to affect compression on that cylinder.
		Add comment


Comboverfish 10 March 2005 21:06:43 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote: What do you think of the messed-up head? Are we talking salvage yard here?> --> Joe Oh yeah! It's time for a salvage or reman head. If you have a good machine shop you might take your "new" salvage head to them and request the absolute minimum work done. You might get by with a resurface and new valve seals (you could do those yourself). Of course the shop we sublet to conveniently finds something wrong with valves and seats on every head we send them, and we have to tell them exactly what we want done to keep the cost down. I wonder if seats dropping are common on this year/engine. I assume you have the 1.9 Ford engine vs the 1.8 Mazda. I haven't seen 1.9s do this but nothing would surprise me with that boat anchor. Toyota MDT in MO
		Add comment


Backbone 10 March 2005 21:58:28 [ permanent link ]
	"Joe S" <mej0j0@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1110409505.067212.32300@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...> Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide> disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple> hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call> gashes.> Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I> should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-; I'd take it to the machine shop. Perhaps they can weld it. At the least they'll let you know what is feasible or not
		Add comment


Comboverfish 10 March 2005 22:03:18 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote: What do you think of the messed-up head? Are we talking salvage yard here?> --> Joe Oh yeah! It's time for a salvage or reman head. If you have a good machine shop you might take your "new" salvage head to them and request the absolute minimum work done. You might get by with a resurface and new valve seals (you could do those yourself). Of course the shop we sublet to conveniently finds something wrong with valves and seats on every head we send them, and we have to tell them exactly what we want done to keep the cost down. I wonder if seats dropping are common on this year/engine. I assume you have the 1.9 Ford engine vs the 1.8 Mazda. I haven't seen 1.9s do this but nothing would surprise me with that boat anchor. Toyota MDT in MO
		Add comment


Joe S 11 March 2005 02:35:19 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote:> Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide> disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple> hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call> gashes.> Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I> should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-;> I'm thinking that either it can be left alone and will run okay, or> have the dings smoothed out a bit, or maybe it's possible to fill> gashes in some way (forgive my ignorance as to whether a shop can> typically weld aluminum to fill) or whether I just have to find a> replacement head? Obviously, if this head is repairable, it'll get> valve job too.> This is on a 94 Merc Tracer aka Ford Escort. I don't want to spend alot> of dough...it's just a utility vehicle with alot of miles and I'd like> to get another 20k miles (or more) out of it for cheap.> TIA,> Joe Head guy says that the seat let go likely due to a crack in the head. He says I can get a refurbished head all pressure-tested and ready to bolt on for $425. I'm guessing I can get set up with gaskets and bolts for about my $500 limit. So, I'm thinking that if he can get it for tomorrow, then that's the way I'll go so I can have it running this weekend. Joe
		Add comment


JazzMan 11 March 2005 06:51:34 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote:> The source of the debris has been identified. As soon as I pulled the> valve, it was clear that the valve seat insert had broken apart. See> picture.> http://www.gone2maui.com/Pictures/HeadDamage_1.jpg> What do you think of the messed-up head? Are we talking salvage yard here?> That head's a gonner. The chances that there aren't any cracks is about nil, and if yoo ground away all the damage you'd have such a compression mismatch that the engine would never run right again. I'd hit the junkard for a used replacement. JazzMan -- ******************************************************** Please reply to jsavage"at"airmail.net. Curse those darned bulk e-mailers! ****************************************************** "Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry ********************************************************
		Add comment


JazzMan 11 March 2005 06:53:09 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote:> Joe S wrote:> > Some metal debris (I don't yet know source....perhaps a valve guide> > disintegrated? Will know more tonight.) has resulted in a couple> > hundred dings on the head for that cylinder. Some I would even call> > gashes.> > Before I bother to take it to a machine shop, I thought I'd ask if I> > should bother to take it to a machine shop. (-;> > I'm thinking that either it can be left alone and will run okay, or> > have the dings smoothed out a bit, or maybe it's possible to fill> > gashes in some way (forgive my ignorance as to whether a shop can> > typically weld aluminum to fill) or whether I just have to find a> > replacement head? Obviously, if this head is repairable, it'll get> > valve job too.> > This is on a 94 Merc Tracer aka Ford Escort. I don't want to spend> alot> > of dough...it's just a utility vehicle with alot of miles and I'd> like> > to get another 20k miles (or more) out of it for cheap.> > TIA,> > Head guy says that the seat let go likely due to a crack in the head.> He says I can get a refurbished head all pressure-tested and ready to> bolt on for $425. I'm guessing I can get set up with gaskets and bolts> for about my $500 limit.> So, I'm thinking that if he can get it for tomorrow, then that's the> way I'll go so I can have it running this weekend.> Joe What does the top of the piston look like? There's also the chance that the rod bearing on that cylinder is damaged. Are you in the position to check that? JazzMan -- ******************************************************** Please reply to jsavage"at"airmail.net. Curse those darned bulk e-mailers! ****************************************************** "Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry ********************************************************
		Add comment


Joe S 11 March 2005 08:16:10 [ permanent link ]
	JazzMan wrote: > What does the top of the piston look like? There's also the chance> that the rod bearing on that cylinder is damaged. Are you in the> position to check that?> JazzMan The worst thing on the piston is one ding that had a piece of the valve seat about the size of bee-bee or two. I got that out. The machine shop guy says that at this low compression, it shouldn't present any sort of problem to have a little bit of piston imperfection. He recommended I just leave it alone so long as I got the seat metal out of there. I do not plan on opening up the crankcase, so I'm gonna hope. -- Joe
		Add comment


Hls 11 March 2005 17:30:39 [ permanent link ]
	"Joe S" <mej0j0@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1110494119.795164.77760@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> Head guy says that the seat let go likely due to a crack in the head.> He says I can get a refurbished head all pressure-tested and ready to> bolt on for $425. I'm guessing I can get set up with gaskets and bolts> for about my $500 limit.> So, I'm thinking that if he can get it for tomorrow, then that's the> way I'll go so I can have it running this weekend.> Joe Respectfully, I believe I could find a fair junkyard engine, complete, for less than that. I don't know where you are, of course, but it seems higher than I would feel comfortable in paying.
		Add comment


Joe S 11 March 2005 20:52:25 [ permanent link ]
	HLS wrote:> "Joe S" <mej0j0@gmail.com> wrote in message> news:1110494119.795164.77760@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> > Head guy says that the seat let go likely due to a crack in the head.> > He says I can get a refurbished head all pressure-tested and ready bolt on for $425. I'm guessing I can get set up with gaskets and bolts> > for about my $500 limit.> > So, I'm thinking that if he can get it for tomorrow, then that's way I'll go so I can have it running this weekend.> > Joe> Respectfully, I believe I could find a fair junkyard engine, complete, for> less than that.> I don't know where you are, of course, but it seems higher than I would feel> comfortable in paying. I do appreciate the input, and I suspected that this would be true, but I was willing to pay some extra money for the small amount of security that this reman. head is whole and guaranteed (and has a fresh valve job, too) and is available to me today for installation this weekend. As this car is used by my son who does not live at home, I feel better with this solution rather than putting in some unknown parts. I also have a load of travertine, marble and slate sitting in my garage waiting for me to start the bathroom remodel, so time is also very significant to me. Thanks for everyone's input! I'll report the final outcome. Joe
		Add comment


Joe S 12 March 2005 03:23:46 [ permanent link ]
	Joe S wrote:> Head guy says that the seat let go likely due to a crack in the head. More on this....research has indicated that this is an epidemic problem with this head. Almost always #4 cylinder, usually intake, but occasionally exhaust. Details and horror stories found here: http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/live/Ford/229.html The stories make me want to dump the car as soon as I get it back together. )-: Joe
		Add comment


Joe S 18 March 2005 18:49:03 [ permanent link ]
	Update on this.... Shop with $425 reman head did come through in time for last weekend...supplier sent from far away instead of nearby...so I got a reman head on ebay for under $200. Only one problem...the cam angle sensor port (I think that's what it's called) is not drilled out. Upper left of this picture. http://www.gone2maui.com/Pictures/head.JPG On the original head, there's a magnetic sensor that goes into the hole and senses when a bump on the cam passes by. My question is...does this just need to be drilled out to allow the sensor to be mounted? I assume the cam has the bump even though this "optional port" hasn't been opened up. Anyone know for sure? Joe
		Add comment

CarGuru > Technology > Aluminum head dings above cylinder- Repairable? 19 March 2005 02:14:50

	see also: NASCAR-TRUCK: Michigan: Jason White… SCORE: Las Vegas draw summary LEMANS: Aston Martin hour 18 notes		pass tests:		see also: Problem with 2001 XG300 Saab Headrests 2002 vw jetta

Copyright © 2001—2009 Car-Guru
Idea: Miсhael Monashev
See Help and FAQ in the community support.car-guru.com.
Write in the community about the bugs you have noticedbugs.car-guru.com.
Write your offers and comments in the communities suggest.car-guru.com.
Information for parents.
Write us at:

If you would like to report an abuse of our service, such as a spam message, please .




Get comments by e-mail Add to favourites

respect your talk pals, avoid using obscene language, typing entire messages in CAPS, posting buy/sell ads or violating netiquette or the RF Criminal Code..

Aluminum head dings above cylinder- Repairable?

Add new comment