The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Are all cylinder heads cracked?

For a 216 engine, have been through two cylinder heads already. Both were found to be cracked by engine shop. When I talk to salvage yards they don't really check them ahead of time and the shipping is expensive. Any advice on finding a non-cracked cylinder head? Is it the freezing and thawing that cracks them? Should I be looking in Arizona?

Freezing and thawing will do it.
Overheating will do it.

I remember friends in the 70s saying "good luck finding a 216/235/261 head, they are all cracked"

They are not all cracked. But, I bet the ones in a dismantling yards have good reason to be suspect for cracks.

If I was buying a head, I'd pay to have it magnafluxed and certified to be uncracked, then I'd know I was paying for shipping a good head. I'd try to negotiate on the cost of head, due to need to magnaflux it.

I can't believe that you don't have some junk yards around you that you can't look thru.I just got two heads and a 58 235 out of one that was an hours drive from the house.Total cost 150.00 plus got rebuildable fuel pumps,carbs,distributors and a ton of spare parts.I also found a spare zenith that was on a GMC pickup and a carter 2100s that was on a Chevy pickup from two trucks at 15.00 each.

I'll bet that if you put an ad in Parts Wanted you'd find someone with a 216 in you're area,I got a 216 head that I ran on my 52 but the shipping would be expensive.


Pete

What year 216?

Appreciate the feedback. Truck is 1950 but the engine i.d. numbers are consistent with 1948. I search salvage yards through car-parts.com but they are all out west.

Has it been magnafluxed?! If it has no cracks i'll come buy it!

It was not magnafluxed but it ran good before the rebuild and when I had it in my truck,for a year.

Pete

Did u find a 216 head? I've got a good one I'll give U !!!! My 52 that is for sale and I will be at the Carlisle, Pa. auction on April 25th. If u haven't found one and want this one, I will bring it to Carlisle. I've got the head bolts, push rods, valve cover. Head was just on a running 216 that the cops crushed the block because of an altered number.

Did you search through Craig's List for the Ohio and Kentucky areas? http://www.Craigslist.org

My original 216 head has stress cracks in all cylinders. The cracks are not through to the water jacket and shouldn't cause problems. The machine shop used some type of liquid crack filler just for grins. Not sure exactly what was used, but what the heck.

I found one (from this Forum - thank you!) that was already magnafluxed with no cracks and she's at the engine shop as we speak. Chassis came back from paint yesterday and looks so beautiful I sat in the garage and stared at it.