Rebuilding my 4g54 and just got my head from the shop for cleaning and inspection and it has a crack in two of the cylinders...just wondering what are all the options for recasts and such. I know of clearwater and ive seen some other brands mentioned before on here..just cant remember them. thanks

Call and ask for Randy, best guy to deal with hands down!
http://www.enginemachineservice.com/conquest.html

Randy has a lot of time building 2.6's ... Good guy...Ask him about the oiling problems he has come across on some of the after market heads before you by a head ....I have a used van head (the good head) if that will help ...

More info on the van head?

Its a used head off a Dodge Caravan that was running but had a bad trans ... The van head has no jet valves and is not prone to crack as a jet valve head ...I think theres 4 or 5 heads in the stash ..LOL... I know theres head gaskets too...I'm a mechanic by trade so if its something you want ..I'll dig it out and check it over ...Its been a few years so I don't remember much about it ...Are you near Minneapolis ..????.. A friend is moving back there the end of the month that could save on shipping if that will help....Let me know

David

Hazardous Toys inc

The Clearwater non jet valve head is a caravan casting. There's a Marnal casting that anecdotally is the best. I had one, and it was a tad beefier. There's also an Alabama head, from a company in Gadsden. Never seen one. I also had a 2.6 head successfully welded up, too. The machine shop removed the seats, and put the head in the oven at 500* overnight, and wrapped it in mineral wool insulation and hauled it two blocks to the tig welder who was sitting on ready torch and filler rod in hand. It cost as much as a new head when I was done, too.

If I wanted to keep the truck forever, I'd buy a Marnal and use arp head studs and a mls head gasket, and cool it religiously.