In need of new Head?

[TalonTime]

Recent I had blown my head gasket. And what appears to be, the head lifted off of the block so that looks like I'm on my way to buying a new head. I wasn't looking at spending anything more than $800. I was thinking about doing the FFWD stage1. I wanted to see what you guys thought about this. I did a search, but didn't find any useful information on it. I do have upgraded valve springs and retainers in my garage that will be going into the new head. And also I will be doing bigger lifters and not sure what rockers I am using yet. Didn't really search that. If I could get any upgraded head for around $800 that would be great. I would love something that is ported but everywhere I look it seem that they are at least $1100 to $1200. Some feed back would be great. Also the race is make 470whp. and with a race gas tune I will be looking around 600whp. So a head that would help the flow for that would be good. But if I cant and have to settle for the FFWD stage1 I will just because money has been tight. So tell me what you guys think is good and what you will go with.

Thanks,
Stef

 

[shortyskater]

Buy one off the classifieds and build it up. If you already have upgraded parts then this could just be your cheapest route.

 

[TalonTime]

I rather get something now. I'm not trying to run into any more problems if I can avoid them, you know what i mean.

 

[Defiant]

Tell us more about these "bigger lifters" you had a dream about.

WTF

 

[TalonTime]

Tell us more about these "bigger lifters" you had a dream about.

WTF

2G lifters have a larger diameter hole than the 1G for instance. Also with the bigger lifter will get rid of that annoying valve tick. I wasn't getting technical about anything and just said bigger lifters. But they are the Revised lifters. understand my nightmare?

 

[bullettdsm]

. So tell me what you guys think is good and what you will go with.

Thanks,
Stef

I think you should go with your old head. I'm not understanding why you feel you need a new head when you blew a headgasket? Plane that one down, and if you feel you want a port job done, have it done on that head.

Who told you that you needed a new head because of a blown headgasket?

MB

 

[TalonTime]

I think you should go with your old head. I'm not understanding why you feel you need a new head when you blew a headgasket? Plane that one down, and if you feel you want a port job done, have it done on that head.

Who told you that you needed a new head because of a blown headgasket?

MB

This is my guess for the HG being blown. The car was just tuned and I was having boost creep problems. The car hit the boost cut, mad a loud BANG and then coolant was everywhere. The only thing I can think of about this coolant is the head lifted off the block, and when that happens then your head is going to be tweaked and not 100% straight. Also I just picked up a compression tester yesterday so once I have a chance I will be doing that. And also I rather go with a new head because my car was sitting for close to two years not running at all, and when the motor sits for a while seals and other things start to go bad, correct?

 

[kahl23]

Blown headgasket doesn't mean you need a new head. If I were you, I would simply work with what you've got. I would start with a compression test and see what that gets you. Chances are even if you lifted the head all you did was warp it a little. Heads can be resurfaced, if you take the head off the car and flip it over, you'll notice little recessed circles cast into the head, as long as the sealing surface of the head is above the level of those cast circles, you can resurface and reuse the head. When the head gets resurfaced enough times that the little circles are no longer recessed (i.e. the no longer appear anymore), THEN it's time for a new head. This is, of course, assuming you just popped a head gasket and didn't have anything more serious going on like a broken spark plug or little bits of piston embedded in the head.
I would find a good local machinist and take the head to him to have it measured for straightness, and if it is out of spec he can get it resurfaced and back to you pretty quick. He can also install the new springs/retainers and 3g lifters, valve guides, seals etc. For rockers, I've never heard of anything other than stock even being available. I would be cautious about having some random machinist port the head, but check around your local DSM club to see if anyone has a favorite machinist that is capable of doing a good job on a 4g63 head. I have no qualms about my local guy doing pretty much anything to the head or block, but that's because at any given time he has a few 4G63's from the local club in his shop and knows his way around them very well. I wouldn't trust any old machinist with a carbide bit though. Good luck, and realize that your head is probably fine, all it needs is a little refresher.

EDIT: I stole a pic from FFWD to show you the "recessed circles" I was talking about:

 

[TalonTime]

Sounds good thanks. And I know what you mean. I am very iffy with who touches parts on my car. There is only one guy in my area that I would ever go to. Thanks for all the info.

 

[TalonTime]

compression test way 160 160 160 170..