Once upon a time, I had one welded for a carb 2.6. The machine shop ground out the crack, heated the head for 24hrs @ 500*F, then hauled it down the street to the tig welder artist who welded it up hot. Never had another problem with that head until the radiator flush tech left the cap loose, and it blew out all the water on a high speed South Carolina run one 4th of July and warped too far to straighten. That shop paid for the second incarnation of the turbo 2.6 in the Raider.

I bet there was no celebration that night, or was there too much, hmmmm. As you say the compressor(engine) makes air extremely well and when it forces that small section of gasket ever so slightly the coolant doesn't stand a chance. If your overflow bottle fills up while you drive. Well its like bubbles in the bath tub (or overflow bottle) it ain't good. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

i have on you turn the key CLICK
I want to know about that turbo diesel does that come with the powers of the dark side

As Yoda the Jeti master would tell you. "Sensing strong force from Turbo Diesel Radier I am. Strong Dark Force." Completion is closing but not as fast as one would hope for. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Did the temperature rise before the head cracked (so there was a warning that something needed fixing, and that the head/gasket might fail), or as a result of the head cracking (so there were no warning signs that failure was eminent)? It sounds as though your head failed before the guage registered an increase in system temperature.

How long have you had the new head and how do you like it?
Any difference in Performance? I just had my 2.6 head redone about 6 months ago and just started blowing white smoke and water out of the exhaust, same as before. Going to pull the head in the next couple of days but suspect another crack. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

Just checked the oil again and now have water in it. Called Clearwater heads and orderd a new head. 375.00+ 20.00 shipping and 20.00 for a set of new head bolts. Head has everything ready to bolt on block.

As of yesterday, mine now has the head bug (I think). I noticed the water overflow empty the other day so I filled it. The truck started running real rough at highway speeds yesterday so I replaced the air filter (it was nasty) but the rough running progressed into all the time today. When I looked under the hood, the water bottle was empty. I pulled the dipstick and the oil level was way high and oil dripped all over the engine bay as soon as the stick came clear of the tube.

First the clutch system replacement and this one week later. This sucks...

I should have just commenced the 4.3 swap when the clutch went out. I wonder if the Clearwater head will cross over when I go to FI turbo later this year...

It will not come with the intake/exhaust studs or the back seal.

Yep. It'll go on just fine. You might tell them when you order it that you're contemplating a turbo conversion. There might be some recommendations there.