One other note...

Cracks on the end combustion chambers = trash bin. Cracks on the two center cyl are more normal.

While the head may be OK, my personal preference was one crack only. If a second crack was starting, the head is getting towards the end of its life.

There is no absolute rule, this is just a recommendation (unless it fails a pressure test).

Like others, I have put these heads back on with small cracks and run them for 60,000 miles or more. What is difficult is predicting just how much life is left after a certain point.

My 2 cents,

Kevin

k, so the head is definitely beat. it has a significant breach in cyl #2.

alabama cyl heads offers bare casting for 250 shipped, and my machinist said it would be 150 to cut the valves from my old head, swap everything and make sure it works, etc.

so that is 400 bucks or so. he suggested i just buy a complete head. clearwater? i can't see spending much more loot that that on this. i've seen some issues with clearwater that make it tough to use them on my end. but spending more money doesn't make sense at this point, i don't think.

sheesh, i wish i wasn't attached to this truck. i think i'm slowly coming to terms that a cherokee is in my future.

Those cracks won't dissappear. It will be a matter of time before they leak. You need to be sure that the cooling system is up to snuff, fuel and timing can cause heat and detonation issues.

Randy

You can't get a very good cherokee for under a grand. Put a grand into your monty and you can put a new head on it and do your clutch and probably fix a few other things.

Good to see you on the board randy. I just ordered a few parts the other day.


Anyhow, as for the head. I've ran one cracked head. I lost a balance shaft guide, and decided to pull the engine apart. It never showed any signs, but I didnt reuse it until a few years later whenm I was in a pinch. It never did give me any troubles, but eh.

You can always go to a junkyard and grab a head. Many times you find rebuilt or aftermarket heads on rigs these days. Take a wire brush and some brake clean with you to clean around the chamber and check for cracks. New valve seals are cheap and easy to install. Just another option.