Cracked head question

So I'm getting geared up to do studs in my truck.

IIRC I remember reading a thread about cracked heads and some one reusing them? Would I be stupid to reuse my heads if they are cracked? Who's to say if I drop the coin on new heads that they won't crack after being studded? If they crack on a stock truck, what makes them not crack being studded? Just looking for opinions here.

Thanks

Cody


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When I studded my motor my heads had lots of cracks. Prior to disassembly there was no loss of coolant or any signs of head gasket problems so I just threw them back on. Been two years since I did it and who know how long they were cracked before that.

09stroker said:

When I studded my motor my heads had lots of cracks. Prior to disassembly there was no loss of coolant or any signs of head gasket problems so I just threw them back on. Been two years since I did it and who know how long they were cracked before that.

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That's what I'm thinking... If the pressure test good and and can be decked flat, I believe I'm going to reuse them


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Pull them off and see how bad they are, they may be ok. I just sent the heads for my shorty out, and they checked out fine. That's 160k on a bone stock motor. Sure they have a couple small exhaust seat cracks, but hardened seats will fix those.

My machine shop says they have only ever had one head with no cracks. The pretty much all have some cracking. I had a few sets from ford with cracks, they have a spec on cracks and I think its fairy lenient. ..lol

When I put studs in my engine the heads were cracked badly but I put them on anyways, 4 years later no issues and I'm sure the cracks have grown.