is my head salvageable?

[pachood]

last year i purchased my NOT RUNNING gvr4 with hopes it would be an easy fix. so we take off the valve cover..sure enough, there are rockers laying all over the exhaust side. okay, i have another head laying around from a previous gst my buddy parted out..then i tear off the head..the pistons have taken a BEATING. ok ok..im not going to run this bottom end so i buy a PERFECT RUNNER gst..yank the motor, take what i can sell off to try to get some money back take it to the crusher..well what he didnt tell me was after the hood flew up on him, he sold off the injectors, didnt have the motor covered for who knows how long. we have the motor up on my engine stand, with one last bolt left in the head i notice i forgot to drain the oil and remove the return line..so i drain the oil..first 5 seconds is water..there had to be a gallon of water in that thing. so now its going to the machine shop this week to be completely checked over..and my 600 dollars in mitsu parts is going into it..but thats another story..after the background, my real concern is this head. the guy at the shop told me it was only 125 for a head job, now i didnt really get into what that includes...but i can buy that other head off my buddy for fairly reasonable..under a hundred..but i would get that rebuilt also. going on a college budget..this car has drained me.

anyways..enough with that..here are the pictures.

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[Locke]

Inspect the bowls and runners for cracks.. visually, and you can put a torch on it (if your fast with the torch, dont put too much uneven heat on the head) the torch will light up the cracks, a nice orange line. Check how warped the head is. Keep in mind how much of the head would have to be machined off to get it straight. Is it too much to use the head on the engine? Are you willing to shim it back up?

Personally, after a solid once-over of the head, I would give them the one you have.. They will look for cracks and such during a head job. Why pay more to get the same end product?

Good luck with the project. Sounds fun.

 

[pachood]

Inspect the bowls and runners for cracks.. visually, and you can put a torch on it (if your fast with the torch, dont put too much uneven heat on the head) the torch will light up the cracks, a nice orange line. Check how warped the head is. Keep in mind how much of the head would have to be machined off to get it straight. Is it too much to use the head on the engine? Are you willing to shim it back up?

Personally, after a solid once-over of the head, I would give them the one you have.. They will look for cracks and such during a head job. Why pay more to get the same end product?

Good luck with the project. Sounds fun.

i was kind of thinking the same about keeping my head rather then going with the other. but now that i'v got the money into it, i want this thing to be in perfect working order before im out for more power.

im an auto body tech and a beginner engine builder on the side...this only being my third..but i have done a handful of transplants.. so i appreciate the advice.

meh, life would be so much easier if i didnt have such a passion for my galant.