Ak951

Any good deals out there?

V2Rocket

The only "known good" head is one that is already rebuilt and skimmed...

Ak951

Any taken from a healthy running engine....could be read ended, motor swapped, etc. Just getting an NA back up to running status to sell and go megasquirt/big turbo on my 951 with the profit.

Ak951

I would've rebuilt the current head if someone would've answered me and sold me the valve guides and deals...

V2Rocket

You were 2nd in line behind the first guy to call dibs

But even a whole new set was only $10 or so more than I was looking for.

Ak951

I know, and decking is another $75, valves another $80, machine shop installing everything $100...over $300 into it when I can get a "good" head for half the price that will work for my purposes. If it were my 951, I'd get it rebuilt. This car is just to flip so I can throw more money at the 951

V2Rocket

I bet the prospective buyer would add the $300 when you tell him it's got a fresh cylinder head, and show him the receipt

To me, a cylinder head once removed is naught but a doorstop until it's been through the machine shop.
I do mobile work on 944s as a side-job, and get paid well for it. But if someone wanted me to put a "good used" head onto their car, I'd turn the job down. Even at $50/hour it's not worth it to me, to maybe have to go back in because the valve seals or guides are worn out...

Your car, your choice obviously. Either way, disclose what you did for the head, to the buyer - nobody likes surprises!

PorscheG96

I agree that this is a bad idea because you're taking someone you don't know at their word that a used head is in good enough condition to run without issues. In my own experience, that's just asking for trouble. I've bought enough used parts that their sellers maintained were in very good condition only to inherit project after project requiring way more troubleshooting time and effort to correct than is desirable/reasonable.

snb13

http://www.944online.com/cgi-bin/yab...num=1462220728

Ak951

Got it all sorted, thanks guys

Dan87951

This is why I don't buy flip cars. The short cuts sellers take on labor intensive fixes just boggles the mind. I hope whatever cylinder head you installed it was at least decked.

Ak951

A decking is definitely happening. Not really shorting on repairs, brand new belts, wp, rollers, gaskets, seals, fluid changes, reference sensors, dme relay, 951 radiator, set of 6 blade fans (it's an 84), new strut inserts and rear shocks and anything else I come across. Most of the parts I have lying around. I just didn't say it because I figured it's common sense. I like seeing them preserved and enjoyed for years to come and wouldn't want to sour the taste of the car for a future buyer.

FRporscheman

Not saying this to the OP, just adding to the discussion...

Machining or decking a cylinder head is only necessary if it is warped or has a damaged surface. Clean it and measure it with a straight edge and feeler gauge. Even warpage of 1 or 2 thousandths of an inch is common and won't hurt head gasket seal. And machining the head comes with its own set of problems, such as changing the timing by shortening the head; possibly making the combustion chambers different sizes; almost nobody checks the engine block for straightness - the machined head may not match as well anymore; a head can only be machined so many times, and now one of those times is used up.

I usually opt to have a head machined as a shortcut to cleaning the surface because I absolutely hate cleaning off gasket material. I just wanted to argue that it's not compulsory.

V2Rocket

The head is more likely to warp than the block because the head runs hotter around the combustion chambers, and the block has twice the mass to absorb and dissipate heat.

The change in cam timing and compression for a basic skim is insignificant, not something you'd ever notice.

Dan87951

If you plan on measuring your cylinder head for flatness, don't use your daughter's school ruler to do so. The tolerances for measuring cylinder head flatness are very precise. You will need a "precision straight edge" and I have seen them cost up to $500 but there are much cheaper ones out there.