PeteJeepR

Hi all
My head is cracked on my 4.0L GC Ltd
Does anyoneknow where I might find a replacement here in the UK.?
Any help will be greatly appreciated
Cheers

5-90

Cracked where? It may be easier for you to have it drilled, gouged, and welded than to source a replacement (I seem to recall that you don't have very many breaker's lots over there, making used replacement parts scarce...)

PeteJeepR

It's cracked between cylinders 3&4. I'm trying to get a price on repair but no-ones got back to me yet

Thanks

tjwalker

Repair of the cracked 0331 head (between cylinders 3-4 due to casting defect) is rarely successful. It's been tried. I wouldn't even attempt it.

You will need a different head.

PeteJeepR

Well I'm off to get a replacement in the morning. Used head but hopefully it will get her running again ;-)

tjwalker

Good luck and update us when the new head is installed!

PeteJeepR

More troubles encountered.! :-(
All back together plus bit of a service: Fresh oil, filters, water pump & stat.
Started to fill up with water for a flush through but found radiator leaking..!!! Arghh..!!! So near yet so far lol
Get rad off in morning and see if I can get repaired or replaced. Not keen on an old one.
Gutted I didn't check this before but heh ho lol

tjwalker

Pete, this is "murphy's law", which is a constant with vehicle repairs.

Get a new radiator in there. Repairing them is like repairing that 0331 head. Not a good idea! Unless the radiator is a newer one with something like rock damage, repairing an old radiator is just not a good long term solution. You will be pulling that one out before long too.

Stay one it! You will get there......................Good luck.

PeteJeepR

The drama continues, I cannot believe my luck, or lack of it, at the moment..!!!
My dad picked up my new rad this morning, got it out of the box, attached the bottom fitting for the transmission cooling and found that there was a machining flaw and it wouldn't fit. Grrrrr..!!!
Another 80mile round trip to get money back ffs.
New one on order from local supplier for tomorrow so fingers crossed it's ok.

My luck has to turn for the better soon - surely..!?!?!

PeteJeepR

Well after a lot of messing about I'm finally there.
Different head, brand new radiator, modified auto transmission fluid cooling hose to radiator and connections, new stat and fresh oil and filter.

All worth the effort cos she seems to be running sweet.
Nightmare to get the air out of the cooling system though.!

tjwalker

Pete,

Glad to hear you are having some luck. Your persistence pays off!

You may want to change the oil a couple of more times, with not much driving inbetween, to be sure that you have all traces of coolant out of the oil. One oil change has been proven to not be enough with oil analysis. Oil is cheap. I'd do this.

Hope you get many more miles from your 4.0!

PeteJeepR

I did plan to do an oil change a lot earlier than usual - say 2000 miles'ish.?

A question about the coolant:
How many heat up, cool down and top up with coolant cycles does it take for the system to be totally primed and air free.?

I've had to top up three times now with approx 1 Ltr each time, although much less on the third occasion, say 2-300 ml.

She runs sweet at about 90-95 deg C so I don't think there's anything wrong, just seems a little odd.?!

tjwalker

3-4 heat up, cool down cycles usually burps the cooling system.

I would DEFINITELY not go 2000 miles on that next oil change. Even though you changed the oil, there are assuredly still traces of coolant in that oil. Past oil analysis from others has shown that. And that coolant is really tough on bearings.

I would do my next oil change at 500 miles, then maybe 1500-2000 for the one after that.

Remember, the cost of 12 quarts of oil is a small price to pay here.......

fishtaconc

Whenever I do major cooling system work, with everything buttoned up, I fill the rad slowly stopping to let it burp itself. Once its full start the engine turn the heat to full hot, let idle with rad cap off, toping off as needed once t-stat opens top off rad replce cap, fill overflow bottle to hot line. check level and for leaks for couple days.