Promaxx Head 2000 XJ
 

Anyone have reasons to buy or not to buy this head off of Summit to replace my cracked 0331?
I have read so many old post on this topic but nothing from the past few years... I am hoping someone has first hand experience with this particular cylinder head.

Why not just go with a tried and true head from clearwater for $200 cheaper?

I have been reading a lot of old posts on a bunch of different forums...
 

All that has accomplished is confusing myself. It is tough to find good write ups for the 00-01 XJs.
Most of the reviews I have read say clearwater isn't great. I read somewhere the promaxx has better performance.
This is why I am posting here.
Have you used clearwater yourself?

Where have you been reading bad reviews on clearwater? On this forum, 99% of the time clearwater is the recommended replacement. I had never even seen this Promax recommended once.

As far as me using it, no. But that woukd be the one I would go with. It's reputation on this site is what would lead me to use clearwater. You said you were reading old posts? Idk if that had anything to do with seeing bad things, but clearwater is recommended here nowadays.

Even on a 2000? I want to be able to use my stock exhaust manifold for now. I suppose I will give them a call.

The clearwater website bothers me. Looks like it's from the 90s...

It's the recommended for the 00 and 01 on here. The site is outdated I agree, but the products are quality. My uncle has an 01 and I was checking out the site if and when his head cracks. But call them like i did. Great people and they explain their process perfectly.

is there any reason to believe one would offer better performance than the other? (somewhat obviously I am looking for torque more than hp)

You know, I have no idea. Looking at both they seem to be just oem replacements.

How long has it been cracked? If you discovered "milkshake" engine oil you might as well stick a fork in it. In so far as performance gains you may want to save your money and buy something else entirely.

No milkshake, oil was fine
 

Suddenly overheated, and I do mean sudden. Everything was perfectly fine and then it jumped the temp gauge to the red in half a second. Coasted it down the mountain home about 10 miles. It flipped back a forth between red and straight up normal a couple times on the way home. I knew what it was immediately. Pulled the head, gasket looked fine, took it to the machine shop, mag showed it cracked.
There was zero warning and really no good reason for this to happen. Just time I guess. 160k with basically zero problems for the life.
Time for a cooling system overhaul and new head.
Any comments on the Promaxx vs Clearwater?

Here are a couple examples of why Clearwater scares the crap out of me...
 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/cho...206084/index2/

http://www.complaintsboard.com/compl...a-c234296.html

I have seen more on naxja and google reviews.

Might be worth the extra $200 for the piece of mind alone...

That's how you know they do good work. No time for building websites when you are busy building cylinder heads :D

I grew up north of Tampa and Clearwater Cylinder Heads is pretty well known in the area, only heard good things about them

What makes you think more money equals better quality? I had never even heard about the Promax until you brought it up. When something is so consistently recommended as the clearwater hear is, I just don't see why to go with something else. So you found a few bad reviews? Every product will have that. Can't please everyone.

But the clearwater head is the choice around here. I've learned a lot on this forum. One thing I've learned is that when something is consistenly recommended like the clearwater is, I have very minimal doubts. That's because so many people with an xj like the product and have no issues. I wouldn't even bother looking for others because I've heard and read alot of great things about the clearwater head here. If mine gave out tomorrow, I'm ordering from clearwater. I would be worried about spending $200 more on that Promax just because it hadn't been recommended before by what I've seen here.

By the way, that thread you linked echoed what I said? Positive reviews here on the forum and the OP is happy. That complaints board just sounds like something I wouldn't trust haha.

There's probably no reason not to buy the Promaxx, other than the lower cost of the Clearwater head. I suspect the performance and durability will be about the same. If you do decide to spend the extra money, weigh it (to compare with the Clearwater head), take pics and write it up here.

If I'm not mistaken, the Promaxx and Clearwater heads are both manufactured in China. It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover that they're the exact same heads from the same foundry, just at different prices.