So I bought a 98 Cherokee with a blown up head gasket. Pulled the head and took it to the machine shop. He skimmed it and magnafluxed it and found a tiny Crack on one of the water jackets between the 3rd and 4th cylinder. It goes straight down to the opposite water jacket so we decided to drill the end of the Crack and he said I shouldn't have a problem with it. Took it back to my shop and got bored so I took one of our little cameras that are meant to go down into engines and I used it to look inside. I'm pretty I found two more cracks inside the actual head.

What do you all think? Run it or get another reman head. Who's a reputable place to get another 0630 head from?

 

I would just replace it. Clearwater is known for quality heads.

 

$450 for a new head really isn't a bad deal. I only paid $250 for the Jeep so I think that's what I'm going to go with. Should have done it from the get go instead of having it machined for 140..

 

id go to the jy or CL and get another head.

 

New head.

No-brainer.

 

I have a 0331 rebuilt about 1000 miles ago I got on a jeep that was hit.Ill let u have it for $40.00 plus shipping from nj.

 

New head. Don't mess with a cracked head, or a crackhead. Neither will end well.

 

I can go to my jy and pull a head for cheap I'm just wondering is it even worth it. I can buy a brand new head and slap it on for less work. Don't have to run the risk of finding the same problem with the next head I find

 

i see your point on time, but $450+ for a jeep head is outrageous. hell my buddy had a used factory tupy head given to him. at $450 you're halfway to a edelbrock head.

 

How long did it have "a blown up head gasket"?
Did you perform a compression and or leak down test before you tore in to it?
Is there a milkshake in the oil pan?
If so it's silly to waste any money on a cylinder head when it needs an engine.

 

Yeah that's true.. I guess it makes more sense to me because I'm only $350 into this jeep and I'm simply going to sell it. Although less money on a head is more money for me..

Good compression, no coolant intrusion. Headgasket had began to split but never completely separated so there was more gas in the coolant. Lower end is perfect with only 147k on it.

 

And what was the oil pressure like? Marinading in antifreeze ruins bearings.

 

LOL! So true!

 

Head gasket never completely separated so coolant intrusion was either none or very small

 

would not use that head of course