Re: SB Magnum head Q's
[Re: FuryUs]
#213365
02/03/09 09:34 PM
02/03/09 09:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,250
ILLINOIS
volaredon
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,250
ILLINOIS
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Quote:
The cracks usually don't go into the cooling passages. As you've found out, there's lots of Magnum engines out there (almost all) running around with cracked heads. Until you pull them and look, ignorance is bliss.
so from what youre saying I could have them drilled for an LA intake reassemble them and be "good" without a high chance of having a "redo" on my hands?? I hate re dos("come backs") more than about anything.
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Re: SB Magnum head Q's
[Re: flatlinedude]
#213369
02/03/09 10:31 PM
02/03/09 10:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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Quote:
Quote:
I have 2 LA 318s that I'd like to swap magnum heads onto as well as a Mag 318 that I am building up for use in a volare. (3 engines total) I cannot seem to find a good (crack-free) set of Magnum heads, to save my life. Lots of money spent (free heads are far from "free")
$225 for a set off a 380 crate+$48 to clean and Mag test; JUNK.
Set off a daily driven 97 1500 truck that had a 318 and NO symptoms of antifreeze in combustion chamber; JUNK; all cracked in same cylinder. Another set here from a buddys shed; afraid to spend the $$$ for the mag and test.
I am dealing with hughes engines on this mess ("only" 100 miles from me)
Are the "iron Ram" heads the same as EQ ones? Hughes has the Iron Rams that will take the valves, etc from my cracked scrap heads. I have plenty of Magnum rocker gear laying around (factory stock) for the swap.
He told me $321-329 (I don't remember the exact number) I really do not want to spend the money at this time (at least til taxes are figured) but need something and for the money Ive spent I could have BOUGHT 1 of Hughes' "Iron Rams".
As many factory Magnum heads Ive had through my hands that have been cracked (3 of the previous 6 I've had,not counting these 4 that I have at Hughes) it is a dam# wonder that every one of these trucks isn't billowing antifreeze-smelling steam going down the road.
That said; are these cracks superficial/don't mean anything??? and therefore much ado being made about nothing, and that even showing cracks, Magnum heads can be used safely anyway?
No one here is going to tell you to run cracked heads... even if it might work. I would never put a motor together with them. I say buy a set of EQ heads, just not from hughes, they're a rip off IMO.
Hotroddave40 will..he has in the past without ill effects.
the Hughes Iron Ram ones are enginequest 318A's (mag intake pattern) & 318B's (LA intake pattern). you can find them cheaper than hughes sells, Carolina Machine Engines quoted me complete a year ago with all new parts, 318B's, OEM sized valves, OEM keepers & seals, and GM3100 springs and retainers set up at 1.65IH for $325 ea plus ship.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD
1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!***
2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Grand Cherokee Overland
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: SB Magnum head Q's
[Re: patrick]
#213370
02/03/09 11:28 PM
02/03/09 11:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 508
Ontario, Canada
84Stepside
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 508
Ontario, Canada
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How bad do these heads crack? can you see them with your eyes of just by magna fluxing? Are they just in the surface or all the way through? I just picked up a 94 5.9 that i am gonna build, was gonna get them checked but i didn't know the problem was this bad.
Last edited by 84Stepside; 02/03/09 11:34 PM.
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Re: SB Magnum head Q's
[Re: volaredon]
#213372
02/04/09 08:42 AM
02/04/09 08:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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yes, the Hughes Iron Rams are enginequests. and whether or not it's worth it to you to get them from hughes and pay more for a bare head vs. buying them from somewhere else and having them shipped, that's really your call... on fleabay, there's a place selling them bare for $229 each or another selling them assembled with all new components for $350 each for comparison,if you wanted to see if they're willing to negotiate a price vs. the $329 ea retail price of them.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD
1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!***
2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Grand Cherokee Overland
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: SB Magnum head Q's
[Re: patrick]
#213373
02/04/09 09:33 AM
02/04/09 09:33 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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why cant the machince shop weld and fix them? I have had a napa machine shop do this for me on some LA 360 heads maged it,showed me the hair crack in an exhast seat and part of the head showed me they welded it and machined a new seat in... cant some of those be fixed?  but then again they could off just blowed smoke and took my $$$ never had a prob with it after that though? maybe some one can skool me on why it cant be done 
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Re: SB Magnum head Q's
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#213374
02/04/09 11:04 AM
02/04/09 11:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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typically these cracks aren't very deep, they don't extend deep enough to hit water and leak...typically. I don't think I'd weld, for a few reasons: 1) unless they ground out significant material, you have no way of knowing if they actually removed all of the crack and if it would begin propogating again, and 2) welding cast iron probably will give you some pretty intense variations in material hardness, from the weld pool to the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) to the base material. this could make cutting a decent sealing seat very difficult and do some interesting things to seat/valve wear as the engine is run.
since these cracks typically aren't too deep, the proper way to fix the head is to machine out the cracked, cast in valve seats, which usually machines out the cracks, and press in a new hardened steel seat.
IF ALL 16 walve seats are cracked, I'd expect the repair bill to be about the same as the MSRP of a single enginequest head (~$20 per seat max 16 seats)....
something to think about...
Last edited by patrick; 02/04/09 11:05 AM.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD
1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!***
2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Grand Cherokee Overland
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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