Thread: OK so it's a cracked head

Originally Posted by Frenchie

See thread on Td5 longevity (or lack thereof).

I've been quoted $4500 for a new head (inc GST). Surely one can be had for less than that?

Crikey, $4500 for a stinkin' head, you could by a good used complete TD5 from the wreckers for about that sort of hard earned, or go to Pickles auctions and buy a whole car, take what you need and sell the rest, the head would end up costing nothing buy the time you sold all of the rest. SAY NO TO RIDICULOUS PRICES, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

Crikey, $4500 for a stinkin' head, you could by a good used complete TD5 from the wreckers for about that sort of hard earned, or go to Pickles auctions and buy a whole car, take what you need and sell the rest, the head would end up costing nothing buy the time you sold all of the rest. SAY NO TO RIDICULOUS PRICES, Regards Frank.

Only trouble is a wrecked Td5 would be hard to find, and in any case I would end up with a second hand motor of unknown history, so I would then have to get rid of the vehicle before the same problem surfaced.

Looks like I'll be able to do it for somewhat less than that, it's just a pain ordering stuff from overseas.

Originally Posted by Frenchie

Only trouble is a wrecked Td5 would be hard to find, and in any case I would end up with a second hand motor of unknown history, so I would then have to get rid of the vehicle before the same problem surfaced.

Looks like I'll be able to do it for somewhat less than that, it's just a pain ordering stuff from overseas.

About 1 1/2 months ago there was a low mileage 140k TD 5 on eBay for $3.5K complete from intercooler/ Radiator to flywheel, for an extra 1k I could have had the Auto box as well, this price included computers and total wiring harness. I didn't buy it because the conversion into my 93 Disco would have required fitting the ABS system for the computer to get it's speed readings. Paying $4500 for a bare head is ridiculous, heads can be welded and heat treated and returned to as new condition, almost every diesel (truck) engine I have rebuilt has had cracked heads, esp. Cummins, getting the heads welded is a normal part of Diesel engine rebuilding. Fit a NEW head, whats to say it's not going to happen again, usually just after warranty runs out. Find an expert that does nothing but repair Diesel heads and have it repaired with confidence, probably for less than half the rip-off price of $4.5k, I've been out of the industry for 10 years now, but surely someone on this Forum knows of an expert, reliable head repairer, good luck, Regards Frank.

Frenchie, a couple of thoughts:

Given you get a bare head for the right price and transplant all the other gear, what condition is (are) all the other bits?



About five years ago, my X1/9 broke a timing belt, resulting in bent valves.

I took the head off the bottom end and had a mob (in Syd) fit in the new vavles and stuff.

This place was amazing - a head shop in Leichardt - heads everywhere and lots of blokes doing nothing but heads.

In less than one day the gave me a head ready to go; cleaned, machined, blasted etc and it looked absolutely perfect! Clean enough to eat off! It was a work of art! And it was (then) only $100 for their work. (And it still works!)

I supplied the parts (FIAT stuff is cheap) and away they went, but I'm sorry I can't remember who they were.

Good luck,

GQ

Thanks for the suggestions (keep 'em coming ).

Welding is out apparently, just spoke to Kev and he's already thought of that but the crack is down inside one of the gallerys and can't be got at to weld properly.

That is a scary price for a small part of a whole engine. I'd try giving TRS in Adelaide a call and see what they have in stock. What would be wrong with a reconditioned head that wasn't cracked?

I may have missed your response on the reason for it going bung, but do you know why this happened? Wrong coolant? Overheating? .....

Originally Posted by spudboy

That is a scary price for a small part of a whole engine. I'd try giving TRS in Adelaide a call and see what they have in stock. What would be wrong with a reconditioned head that wasn't cracked?

I may have missed your response on the reason for it going bung, but do you know why this happened? Wrong coolant? Overheating? .....

Kev already tried TRS. Problem with a second hand head is that there are no guarantees. At least with a new one I should get another 100,000km out of it before it happens again.

Reason it happened - it's just something that Td5s do.

not just TD5's i've heard and experienced plenty of cracked Alloy heads in Diesels!

Steve