1G Shopping for a cylinder head, what to watch for?

[spoolin eagle]

I'm in the market for another head.

What should I look for when buying a used head? Bent valves, make sure valves close, is the head flat?

Anything else to look for?

 

[Generation1JeY]

If it has valves in it get some really thin solvent and put it in all 4 the intake and exhaust chambers. If it leaks through the valves keep shopping. To measure straightness take a true straight edge and place it on the surface, use feeler gauges to determine if its warped or not. Also if the head is warped significantly you might be able to see light scraping from the cams where the cam towers bolt the actual cam down. What happens is the entire head will twist, and with the cams being much stronger, when the aluminum head tries to flex the cams the cams will literally eat away at the cam towers, just scraping the aluminum away. I'm just speaking from recent experience. My head warped 8 thousandths and it was basically trash according to my machinest. So ya most just make sure the valves seal otherwise you would be looking at a valve job and make sure its straight.

 

[92awddsm]

Also, when inspecting the head, check all bolt holes. People have a tendency of stripping the oil feed hole on the right corner, vc bolt holes, and ex manifold bolt holes. If it has any broken studs, make sure there is no drill bit broken off in the stud.