Does new head reduce chance of it going again?

[Leash]

I am looking at a Surf that has documentation showing it had a replacement cylinder head about 2 years ago. I see that you can get a modified head that seems to solve problems, but if it was not modified does it reduce chance of it going again?

[kitesurf_phil]

I am looking at a Surf that has documentation showing it had a replacement cylinder head about 2 years ago. I see that you can get a modified head that seems to solve problems, but if it was not modified does it reduce chance of it going again?

Do you have documents to show who replaced the head? If it was done by someone reputable like Stevo or TonyN it should be OK.
Most replacement heads available in the UK are modified, although a couple of years ago there were firms offering repaired (welded) heads. Hopefully, due to advise from this forum, there is no market for stitched up heads.

[Leash]

It is an invoice showing parts and costs from a local garage (in West Wales).

[joe112]

its the unmodified heads that have more chance of going... I am guessing from your comments that you are looking at buying this surf... Ask the dealer your getting it from to put a warranty on the head... any reputable dealership should have no problem with this..

even if it is an unmodified head it doesn't always mean it will go.. there were only a vcertain number of surfs affected so some are ok. unfortunatly there is no way to find out for sure!

the reason the head problems on the 2.4 seem so bad is because it is covered so often!

hope this helps

Joe

[Leash]

Thanks.

It is a private sale. Unfortunatly the last owner died a couple of weeks after buying, so am going off records he got off previous owner.

[Linda]

Thanks.

It is a private sale. Unfortunatly the last owner died a couple of weeks after buying, so am going off records he got off previous owner.

A new unmodified head should only have problems if the truck gets at all hot (like the original). The temp guages on the 2.4's are not very sensitive, so we usually add an additional water temp sensor directly into the coolant system. We seen the temp move 10 or 20 degrees on these guages with no noticeable movement on the toyota guage, which may well account for a lot of blown heads (people didnt know the truck was hot until too late). In addition the original head gaskets were recalled as they were too thin. A replacement head would usually have had a modern gasket fitted which would be thicker than the original one, which will also help protect the head.

If you go ahead I'd get AA out to pressure test the system (or local garage) and fit an aftermarket water temp sensor, and always check water levels, be aware of the engine temp and stop immediately if it ever gets at all near the red. You'd still have the thought at the back of your mind that it "might" go.

Alternatively buy one with the modified head. There are lots around at the moment.

[JimL]

I am looking at a Surf that has documentation showing it had a replacement cylinder head about 2 years ago. I see that you can get a modified head that seems to solve problems, but if it was not modified does it reduce chance of it going again?

How about you let someone else have that surf. You know what you might do, buy one with a shagged head for a grand (see them in the ads 'engine needs attention'), get one of the two spanners on here to fix everything up for you, maybe spending 1,500 and away you go happy in the knowledge....