Is this bad?

[trinogt]

I see some small cracks between water jacket holes and head bolt holes… it’s concerning. What do you think? Early style 4.0 ohv, in my ‘93 Splash rc Flareside . Just get a new head? Run it? The reason for having the head off is because of noisy lifters, but I see a lot of wear in the rocker arms (valve side) so I’ve already purchased and installed rocker arms on the rails.

 

[superj]

if you take that head and get it NDT'd (non-destructive testing) which would probably be fluorescent penetrant inspection, those flaws will show up as cracks because of the way they are laid out. maybe if the shop does dye penetrant, it would read better. i don't know if you can ask them to do eddy current, or if it would just be crazy expensive, i really have no idea, but you will almost certainly fail by the looks.

without running it though, i don't know.

 

[Chapap]

That looks like an unhealthy surface to me. Haven't seen many head faces in person, but what I have seen was nice and smooth. Would having them resurfaced be a good step?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thats iffy at best.

If it was an intake manifold or something less hard to change with less possibilty of doing serious damage upon failure id pry give it a shot. But on a head? No.

It might last 20 years it might last 2 days...but i dont know if id trust it.

 

[19Walt93]

Is there a machine shop nearby that could magnaflux it? I'd be concerned about the cracks spreading and allowing coolant into the combustion chambers or, even worse, into the oil.

 

[trinogt]

Is there a machine shop nearby that could magnaflux it? I'd be concerned about the cracks spreading and allowing coolant into the combustion chambers or, even worse, into the oil.

The local machine shop is no more, sadly… my first thought was to have them look until I remembered they closed down recently. I don’t feel warm and fuzzy about it, even though compression was good in all cylinders, there were times I thought I smelled the sweet smell of coolant from the exhaust, but there were no signs of it in the cylinders or spark plugs. Just occasional noisy lifters, followed by a very loud lifter noise that started one day (plunger fell right out of lifter). Thank you all for your answers, I think I will get a new head. Don’t want to go through all the work of replacing again any time soon!

 

[19Walt93]

If coolant leaks into the oil you'll end up replacing a lot more than a head.

 

[Shran]

FYI you can get a brand new pair of heads for $500... like brand new Ford heads, not some rebuild junk.

Set of New 4.0L Ford Ranger Cylinder Heads 1990 - 1994 Casting Number 93TM 90TM | eBay

Casting # : 90TM6090BE, or 93TM6090AA.

www.ebay.com

 

[rumblecloud]

... I think I will get a new head. Don’t want to go through all the work of replacing again any time soon!

I agree with you on replacing it now. Other than having to spend the cash, you are better off doing it now. I wonder what the other side looks like?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Only makes sense to replace the pair.

 

[Chapap]

Should he resurface/treat the mating surface on the block?

 

[Shran]

Should he resurface/treat the mating surface on the block?

I would just use a scotchbrite pad or finger disc on a die grinder to get the old gasket material off and call that good. Block is probably fine.

 

[trinogt]

FYI you can get a brand new pair of heads for $500... like brand new Ford heads, not some rebuild junk.

Set of New 4.0L Ford Ranger Cylinder Heads 1990 - 1994 Casting Number 93TM 90TM | eBay

Casting # : 90TM6090BE, or 93TM6090AA.

www.ebay.com

The cheapest option I have now is to buy one new, bare head for $220, and use my old valves and springs, maybe just a quick valve lap and put it together? I normally don’t try to do a quick job, but i need to get this truck rolling soon… what do you think?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Valves probably need cleaned up with a valve grinder first, and there is a lot more to it than just lapping the valves.

 

[Shran]

I feel like if you intend on keeping the truck, you might as well do both. I agree with what he said ^^^^^^ you are going to have money into having the valves cleaned up too.

I also feel like if one head is bad, the other probably looks like that too. If you cheap out you might be back in there right away doing the other head... but maybe not.