So I dropped my heads off at my local machine shop 2 or 3 days ago and I get a call today, actually a voicemail at 7pm from 3pm this afternoon (gotta love nextel) and the message says the machinist that looked at my heads said they are no good for some reason no major details. When I called back they were closed so I need to call tomorrow and figure it out. The lady wholeft the message said something about the copper inside the heads or something, but it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me so I will be calling the machinist tomorrow to find out what is the problem. So my question for you guys is this, I have read that you can put vortec heads on it, but what is the gains and what, else needs to be changed if I do this. Or what are my other options, can I get stock heads from somewhere? Also should I pull the block out of the truck now and go through that, because something obviously caused the heads to go correct? Or could it just be from the leaking intake and head gaskets? Please any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
Heads no good, don't know what to do?
- Thread starter DRUNK411
- Start date
JSM
Active member
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
I don't know what your goals are, but being you bought the truck in unknown condition if it were MINE. I would pull the motor and go through it, get a set of l35 heads (slightly better than stock and bolt on without modification).
I have always found putting new heads on an old bottom end never works for me personally. Be piece of mind to at least have new bearings and inspect the bottom end.
I don't know what your goals are, but being you bought the truck in unknown condition if it were MINE. I would pull the motor and go through it, get a set of l35 heads (slightly better than stock and bolt on without modification).
I have always found putting new heads on an old bottom end never works for me personally. Be piece of mind to at least have new bearings and inspect the bottom end.
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
That is what I was thinking now myself now that I have come this far. Thanks for the advice! Now to go into the motor would it be wise to put a cam and up the internals at all while I was in there? I do not want a all out race machine just a nice "street racer" I guess you could call it. If so what cam and stuff would you guys recomend without doing to much? Thanks again.
That is what I was thinking now myself now that I have come this far. Thanks for the advice! Now to go into the motor would it be wise to put a cam and up the internals at all while I was in there? I do not want a all out race machine just a nice "street racer" I guess you could call it. If so what cam and stuff would you guys recomend without doing to much? Thanks again.
pinellas50
New Guy
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
My guess is they are saying that the valve guides are worn.
A place near me sells redone stock heads for $125 each with core. I gave them my old heads and they gave me a set of fresh L35's. Check around. Or I can get you the number for the place here but shipping would probably be expensive.
My guess is they are saying that the valve guides are worn.
A place near me sells redone stock heads for $125 each with core. I gave them my old heads and they gave me a set of fresh L35's. Check around. Or I can get you the number for the place here but shipping would probably be expensive.
JSM
Active member
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
The problem with mods is you get into a "while I am in there" situation. New cam will mean custom tuning, while your custom tuning might as well do upgraded turbo, well shoot now I better stall would be good, with more stall a tranny cooler is a good idea, and while your doing tranny cooler, might as well do electric fans, which now means you need to upgrade the alternator, and that battery is taking up a lot of room, time to move it, and now with the extra room a new intercooler would fit nicely, already got the electric fans, ........
I suggest any owner to set their goals/budget and stick to it.
The problem with mods is you get into a "while I am in there" situation. New cam will mean custom tuning, while your custom tuning might as well do upgraded turbo, well shoot now I better stall would be good, with more stall a tranny cooler is a good idea, and while your doing tranny cooler, might as well do electric fans, which now means you need to upgrade the alternator, and that battery is taking up a lot of room, time to move it, and now with the extra room a new intercooler would fit nicely, already got the electric fans, ........
I suggest any owner to set their goals/budget and stick to it.
dgoodhue
BuSTeD 4.3
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
Stock heads are cheap. You can find them anywhere, I bet you could find another set for 50-75 low miles, but shipping is $40.
Anyways, Vortec Conversions add up in price, its not just cost of the heads. Its drillign the heads, welding the intake. If you swap the cams, its new springs pushrods, maybe lefter, timing chain. Vortec heads and Cam changes really affect the air flow of the motor so it will need a custom chip as well for either of those mods or you will end up with poor driveability.
If you want to make the project simple, have the ability to run 12's (going by that you buying Waller 57mm turbo). I would either find a used set of stock heads or buy a set of L35's. Both those bolt on, and the air flow difference off the L35 won't require a major retune.
Stock heads are cheap. You can find them anywhere, I bet you could find another set for 50-75 low miles, but shipping is $40.
Anyways, Vortec Conversions add up in price, its not just cost of the heads. Its drillign the heads, welding the intake. If you swap the cams, its new springs pushrods, maybe lefter, timing chain. Vortec heads and Cam changes really affect the air flow of the motor so it will need a custom chip as well for either of those mods or you will end up with poor driveability.
If you want to make the project simple, have the ability to run 12's (going by that you buying Waller 57mm turbo). I would either find a used set of stock heads or buy a set of L35's. Both those bolt on, and the air flow difference off the L35 won't require a major retune.
Don W.
Stab it and steer it
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
X2, It has never really worked for me either. Every builder I have ever talked to seems to agree one this, if nothing else. (It did work once but that was on a totally stock propane motor where we had to put in hard exhaust seats.)
TwinTurboV8Ty said:
X2, It has never really worked for me either. Every builder I have ever talked to seems to agree one this, if nothing else. (It did work once but that was on a totally stock propane motor where we had to put in hard exhaust seats.)
Re: Heads no good, don't know what to do?
Ok thanks for all the info guys. I am going to try and find a set of stock heads or L35's for it. I am going with the waller turbo upgrade like mentioned above, it is with him now. So from what you guys are saying I should stay away from doing a cam in it? Or is there a mild cam I can put in to give it a little more HP, that does not reguire a ton of tuning? Thanks again for being patient and all the good info!
Ok thanks for all the info guys. I am going to try and find a set of stock heads or L35's for it. I am going with the waller turbo upgrade like mentioned above, it is with him now. So from what you guys are saying I should stay away from doing a cam in it? Or is there a mild cam I can put in to give it a little more HP, that does not reguire a ton of tuning? Thanks again for being patient and all the good info!