Cylinder heads gone

[ckc100]

Hi folks
my surf has just died today with the wife at the wheel. At least she stopped when the temperature started to climb and got the AA out. She has been under instruction for a few months to watch for the temp. as it has been throwing water out the expansion tank on different occasions.
That is nearly a year its been in this country and its at about 70,000 miles now. So I was expecting it after all the stories that Ive read about on hear. Does anybody know who would be best for a new head I see milners have one for £550 but it doesnt say if it is complete or if it is just a bear head, also are the gaskets okay from Milners because everybody I talk to local up here just shake there head when you say that its a import which means I could wait weeks for things which I m not willing to do as I m away for two weeks just now and then I was going on holiday when I got home but I dont think so now as I will have to strip the head off and MOT it after that.
Isn,t life fun
Cheers folks just felt I had to share it with somebody.
Charlie

[Linda]

Are you sure the head is gone yet? If she didn't let it overheat, it may just be a duff gasket.

[ckc100]

I m away offshore just now so I will have to wait and see but it has been dropping water for while, but I m not sure if I want to take the chance of stripping it down and rebuilding it only to have to do it again in a few months when the head does really go.
Most of these imports seem to be good for 6 months to a year after they have came to this country then the heads crack so I think I just spend the money and do the full monty.
Cheers Charlie

[Koi]

I m away offshore just now so I will have to wait and see but it has been dropping water for while, but I m not sure if I want to take the chance of stripping it down and rebuilding it only to have to do it again in a few months when the head does really go.
Most of these imports seem to be good for 6 months to a year after they have came to this country then the heads crack so I think I just spend the money and do the full monty.
Cheers Charlie

Maybe a duff stat, is viscous fan working correctly. Worth checking these things out first, get a pressure test done.

[ckc100]

Hi there the AA guy put a test on the water system with it running and it went through the roof so either the gaskets really bad or the heads cracked.
Thanks for the responses
Does anyone know the contact details for uk cylinder heads as I seen on one of the threads that there heads came with the cam and the valves where as the Milner ones only come with valve guides and comustion chambers.
Cheers Charlie

[Koi]

Hi there the AA guy put a test on the water system with it running and it went through the roof so either the gaskets really bad or the heads cracked.
Thanks for the responses
Does anyone know the contact details for uk cylinder heads as I seen on one of the threads that there heads came with the cam and the valves where as the Milner ones only come with valve guides and comustion chambers.
Cheers Charlie

www.ukcylinderheads.co.uk

[marky]

www.ukcylinderheads.co.uk

it had moved NIGEL LOL

[ckc100]

Thanks for the address guys I will buy a complete head with valves it will save me time when rebuilding. Thanks again Charlie

[ckc100]

Hi guys just an update on the Surf I removed the head and found 4 gracks between the valves but they did not appear to affect the valve seats and I found a bad bit on the gasket so I took my chances and just fitted a new gasket and tried it.
I Should have went with my gut feeling and fitted a new head the first time as soon as I took it for a run it was trying to blow water out every pipe it could so the head came of and I waited for a new one from uk cylider heads which came very quickly even up hear in Scotland.
When I took the head off it was the crack between the valves in cylinder number 4 which was the problem as it had let water drip on to the piston overnight.
For those of you who might think I was mad trying it just with a gasket is that I had seen a lot of VW engines with cracks betwen the valves and this was acceptable by VW.
Once the new head was fitted it has been running fine it has still got pressure in the system but not as much as it had ( it was pushing past all the new jubille clips after the first time i had the head off ) After much thought I bought a new radiator from parts plaza and fitted it before I took it on a few days holiday. After coming home and checking under the bonnet it it has developed 2 leaks along the header of it, It is not enough to cause a drip but the antifreeze is going crusty on it. So we will see what there waranty is like as I have emailed them some photos of the leaks.
I am still very happy with the Surf and was well impressed when after I did the head I took it for its MOT and it passed with out it needing anything that is except the small bit of welding I did to the exhaust over the back axle before I put it in.
Keep Surfing folks there is some light at the end of the tunnel
Cheers Charlie

[Guest]

Hi guys just an update on the Surf I removed the head and found 4 gracks between the valves but they did not appear to affect the valve seats and I found a bad bit on the gasket so I took my chances and just fitted a new gasket and tried it.
I Should have went with my gut feeling and fitted a new head the first time as soon as I took it for a run it was trying to blow water out every pipe it could so the head came of and I waited for a new one from uk cylider heads which came very quickly even up hear in Scotland.
When I took the head off it was the crack between the valves in cylinder number 4 which was the problem as it had let water drip on to the piston overnight.
For those of you who might think I was mad trying it just with a gasket is that I had seen a lot of VW engines with cracks betwen the valves and this was acceptable by VW.
Once the new head was fitted it has been running fine it has still got pressure in the system but not as much as it had ( it was pushing past all the new jubille clips after the first time i had the head off ) After much thought I bought a new radiator from parts plaza and fitted it before I took it on a few days holiday. After coming home and checking under the bonnet it it has developed 2 leaks along the header of it, It is not enough to cause a drip but the antifreeze is going crusty on it. So we will see what there waranty is like as I have emailed them some photos of the leaks.
I am still very happy with the Surf and was well impressed when after I did the head I took it for its MOT and it passed with out it needing anything that is except the small bit of welding I did to the exhaust over the back axle before I put it in.
Keep Surfing folks there is some light at the end of the tunnel
Cheers Charlie

Charlie.

Good news you got it sorted. You should still have pressure in the system as the engine warms up, up to just under 1 Bar of pressure is correct (the radiator cap is 0.9 bar although I have a 1.1 bar one on mine). However you shouldn;t have any pressure when the engine is cold as the pressure is caused by the expansion of the water as it heats up.

Get Parts Plaza to replace the radiator as it shouldn't have gone so soon, looks like a bad rebuild job. That is a typical place for the rads to blow.

Good news about the MOT, mine just sailed through. The Surf really is an incredibly strong and reliable car, once you get past the Head thing.

Cheers

[ckc100]

Hi folks just finished fitting the radiator again parts plaza had no problem with replacing it after a couple of phone calls. So hopefully that will be the end of being under the bonnet for the summer. Cheers Charlie

[DEREK ALLAN]

new head

Charlie
Where did you get your head done? Or did you do it yourself?
I got a replacement head at Agricar in Dundee. Sent the old head away comlpete they strip it put all bits and bobs back on new head £680, This was done through a local garage.
Cheers
DA

[wdavie]

cylinder head

Hi guys. Are the cylinder heads from ukcylinder heads any good as I've read different stories about replacement cylinder heads cracking again. I don't know whether to replace head on my 91 surf or get rid of it and buy something else. If the replacement cylinder head was any good I'd chance this but don't want to replace this only to face same probs again in 6 months time.

[Hilux]

Heads

Hi personally if you going to get the head done buy a "NEW" one not a recon,
touch wood l have only had to replace 2 heads on any of the SURF,s l have sold, and l used new ones. So l would say stick with it mate.

[Koi]

Hi guys. Are the cylinder heads from ukcylinder heads any good as I've read different stories about replacement cylinder heads cracking again. I don't know whether to replace head on my 91 surf or get rid of it and buy something else. If the replacement cylinder head was any good I'd chance this but don't want to replace this only to face same probs again in 6 months time.

I and Lucky both used UK cylinder heads, new heads were fitted and come complete ready to bolt on (except injectors). Ordered one day delivered the next. Mine was replaced Sept last year and Lucky's before this. To date no problems with either, just make sure you get a NEW head.