Dead already !

[Smokerace]

Hi all, I ve just bought (yesterday) a H Reg 2.4L Surf. Picked it up from Leicester and drove it direction home (Morecambe) After about 25 miles on the motorway the temp guage shot up and I pulled over, had me a looksy under the bonnet. Cooland had sprayed out of one of the heating hoses from a loose clip ! Ok thinks I, call out the RAC (cleverly joined them when I knew I was buying it see) out they came and put a new clip on. So off I set again sure enough ten mins later I can smell coolant and see it coming from under the bonnet, pull over have a look. This time its blown the heater pipe to pieces, coolant everywhere ! So out with the RAC again. Sniff test performed and a mild change in colour noted after several mins. Recovered home.
Now I know these things suffer from cracked heads but I dont recall reading in here that they build up so much pressure to blow the pipes to pieces. Anyone had this before ? Yes its put a bit of coolant back into the expansion tank but its not filled it up. Also I didnt notice any smoke from the exhaust. Anyway if it needs a new head I am looking at a built up one from Milners off road. Are these heads anny good ? Are they new castings or reconditioned ones ? Stevo is a little bit out of my price range unfortunatley.
Cheers for any advice people.

[s car go]

Hello newbie!!

Sorry to hear about your head troubles.Once you get it sorted it will be a great truck!

Don't know much about heads,and have'nt had a long drawn out discussion about AMC cylinder heads available from Roughtrax,nor have I built up an AMC head from Roughtrax. So you'll have to wait for someone knowledgable to come along

Regards

Mark

[Sancho]

Take it back where you got it and kick the bloke in the balls. The head has cracked and pressurising is exactly what happens when that's the case.

If you can't afford a Stevo head, as S Car Go says, your best bet is an AMC one from Roughtrax. He's been lucky with his so far...

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the price though. The bloke that sold you the truck's paying isn't he?

[MWS]

Hi Darren. I'd get back onto the vendor, straight away, and raise some HELL!....Good luck....Cheers....Mick.

[TonyN]

If the hoses are old and soft they will fail before the cap reaches opening pressure.

Sometimes the rad fails, sometimes the hoses, if all are up to scratch then the expansion tank will fill up and overflow.

All the heads mentioned above are fine, correct and careful fitting is far more important.

The head may have cracked after it over heated form the loose clip the first time, but usually its because it's already broken, and the trip up the motorway has emptied it of water or the pressure has made something let go.

No one but the seller will know if it has issues, hopefully you got it from a dealer, then you can give it back as unfit for purpose, if it came privately, then you don't have a lot of comeback, thats why dealers charge more!