My 1991 LS died. Took the heads off thinking one cylinder was dead and find out both heads are cracked in just about each cylinder.
175k on the motor. Was running well but using some water and just got worse. Evidently it got hot too...:(

So, I can get a set of heads for 210.00 each. Any suggestions?? Its my favorite run around standby car with perfect body( was a TX truck). Id like to keep it for a long long time..

thnx

I'd take a look at the cylinder bores and see if the honing crosshatch is still good all the way around, with special attention to the thrust side (left side of the bores looking from the front). If those are still ok, and the oil pressure was still good and high, I'd be tempted to put new heads on it and go.

I don't trust jdm or "used" engines...

At this point in time "I" would not go JDM do to the "Time frame" ... The more time goes by the less and the bottom of the barrel of a JDM you will get .. And the v6 motors start to smoke as miles and time get on them so used and JDM are a crap shoot on having to mess with the heads on the "new" used motor any how

Did you do a compression test on the motor before you pulled the heads ..?... I allways do .. It can be low on the cylinders that have cracks or blown head gasket ... But it really helps to see where your at ... Sorry on the DOA on the Monty ...

The V6 heads dont really crack like the 2.6 most of the time .. Did you get her real hot ..Have the heads "greyed"...?

Hope your days get better

David

Hazardous Toys inc

I did a compression check on the motor when I found just one dead cylinder by pulling the plug wire and seeing/hearing no change in idle. Only one cylinder was dead at that time so I figured head gasket and I was losing cooling fluid little by little for a long long time but just lived with it. I kept driving it and yes it over heated but not to the point it was over boiling that I can remember.

Motor has 175,000 miles on it. Heads were "redone" by my friend and previous owner I got the truck from. Have receipts and all that stuff. I dont think the heads were ever re-torqued after initial run-in and not sure if the gaskets were felpro dont have to re-torque gaskets or not. I do know the head bolts were so tight I had to use a 3/4 breaker bar with a 30" handle and lots of BALLS to get them loose....

Over time it became a steam pump....so maybe I did "warm it up" anyways I was not expecting "cracked heads"

Oil PSI has always been good when cold and then would drop to about 10 when idling hot. Motor used NO oil and had NO oil smoke what so ever.

Guess Ill just slap a set of heads on it and go from there.

scott

Well these motors are known to go a long ways.. I have 190k on my 89 ..And was shocked on the compresion it had at a test ...Its fogging oil smoke to the point its time to fix that .. The rings are last to go on a motor have the valve spring really looked at thats what really kills HP in a motor most people not know that .. I think there some V6's well into 200k on the forum ..I would think it would go to 200k with the right care ...I was going to do a motor swap (3.5) this winter when I do my other work on it ... But not now I'll fix the valve seals and use that time for a nother toy I have (new race car <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />..) ...But I dont put 5000 mlies a year on any car...

Have a good day

David

Hazardous Toys inc

I have a pair of heads off my long ago parted 89. I never did get that truck to run and these heads have been sitting for about 2 years. I would def. have the valve stem seals replaced as a minimum.

Could be cheaper to get these and have them cleaned locally.

Pm if interested. Jim