cylinder head repair failed

[jud]

As some of you may have seen from my thread a couple of weeks ago my head went. A local garage who have worked on my surf before and who I know the mechanics well, took on the job of repair.

I tracked down a second hand head and the job was on, however as soon as it was fixed it was pressurising again, the garage suspects the block as it appeared to have some pitting on it. This would mean stripping the engine again and the cost would escalate. At this point I told them to stop and i took truck home. They checked water pump prior to rebuild and said it was fine. I am at a loss now with a large bill and still a broken truck.
Does any one have any suggestions?
Is it worth spending money changing the engine or should I just give up now and cut my losses?

[jotto]

Was the old head pressure tested?
And was the new (second hand one) tested before it was fitted?
If you do want another engine try getting hold of biohazard I think he still has one for sale at not a bad price.

[Bogus]

Lots of things Id be asking before I suspected the block. They should have checked it for flatness in any case. Did they use new head bolts on your 2nd hand head. Did they torque them up to the specified torque, plus 90 deg plus 90 deg. did they ensure that the bolt holes were clean and dry. Whilst it could be the block, Id be a bit surprised, Did you fit the thickest head gasket available? I believe theres 3 or 4 different thicknesses. The Surf block is one sturdy lump of metal and unlikely to warp. A few years ago the head on my 2.4 went a few weeks after I sold it. The guy got a new head and took it to a "great mechanic" who he knew who reused the old heads bolts. Result, system still pressurising at which point they said , its the block. After removing the head, fitting another new gasket and this time using new head bolts, properly torqued and turned. It was and I believe still is fine

Bogus

[Smego2]

I am at a loss now with a large bill and still a broken truck.

Why are you paying them the shudda check the second hand one b4 fitting it, if they haven't fixed it don't pay them!

[Albannach]

the shudda check the second hand one b4 fitting it, if they haven't fixed it don't pay them!

Not if the OP supplied the head. If the OP supplied the head and instructed the garage to fit it, it's the OP's fault, not theirs.

[TonyN]

Where's the pitting? if it round the top of the bore then its nothing to worry about.

Personally i'd have avoided a used head if at all poss, but sometimes needs must.

Smego is right (unusually.... : wink2: ) I hope you used new head bolts, if then that is your problem.

The garage isn't at fault for fitting what you told them to fit, assuming they did it properly, but they should have advised you to used all new head bolts and gasket.

RE the pitting, this is fine, and normal...



And even this was ok (although pushing it, but it was fine.. lol )...



As long as the pitting dosn't go on to the top of the block deck, where the head gasket touches it'll be ok. Its just etching from the coolant mixing with fuel/exhaust gasses and corroding the metal.

The extent of the pitting shows how long its been cracked.

[jud]

Thanks for all replies guys,

I do not know if they used new head bolts or the original ones. I will ask them.
They did check the second hand head for flatness, and used a composite gasket which was apparently quite thick.

I needed the truck back on road quickly so that why I used garage, I have a mechanic friend who usually helps me out doing stuff myself, so maybe we will do the bolts again if they were not new?

[jud]

Sorry been a while but other things need attention elsewhere. Anyway, it turns out that the garage used the old head bolts as they seemed to be unaware they needed to use new ones, they did torque up 90plus 90 etc.
They have said that they can put in new head bolts without removing the head. Is this likely to work or does the head need to come off?

[Albannach]

If the bolts have bottomed out, they may be able to rescue the situation doing a botch job like that.

The correct way to do it would be to replace the gasket and bolts.

[stormforce]

If it was my truck then i would want the head off and everything cleaned up then refitted with new gasket and new head bolts.The garage made the cock up so its at their expense it should be put right properly and not one bolt at a time which i reacon they will do

[jud]

thats what i thought as well . Cheers guys, will keep you posted

[TonyN]

no way, the gasket will have been compressed now, and its been leaking so will be marked, also they will never get the right tightening sequence doing it a bolt at the time.

who ever suggested it needs to man up and do the job properly, or retire.

[SoundsDigital]

What sort of mickey mouse garage would not know to use new head bolts? All head bolts should be replaced these days. Did they reuse the old engine oil too?

[Bibs]

What sort of mickey mouse garage would not know to use new head bolts?

Hmmmm actually its more common than you think