Want to have my "i" head rebuilt...what to look for in a shop?

[phenryiv1]

I have an "i" head with 131K on the clock, but before I bolt it to my Seta bottom end as I do the full timing belt service, I'd like to have the head rebuilt.

It looks pretty clean on the inside, but the valves on the donor have some carbon buildup.

What (exactly) do I need to say as I start calling machine shops? What process do I need to tell them that I want to have done?

I want the carbon cleaned up.

Do I want to thave the valves re-ground and the seals replaced?

What else do I need to ask to have done?

Any idea on time it should take (obviously, cost will vary based on shop rates).

Pics of donor head:

[ihavea325is]

some one has a bent valve
exhaust #5 is way off
go to any machine shop, i got mine rebuilt for around 400
i went to a local levines

hope that helps

[thejlevie]

That head looks awfully clean for 131k. Might it have been recently rebuilt?

The carbon in the head and on the valves looks pretty normal. You could clean it off, but it will be back real soon.

[E36 For Life]

I agree with thejlevie that thing looks super clean, I have seen heads with 20k on them look worse and run great. Maybe just have them check for cracks, warpage?

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by ihavea325is

some one has a bent valve
exhaust #5 is way off

I had no idea what I was lookng for when I bought it from the JY, so your guidance helps. I don't like what you are saying, but that isn't your fault.

Originally Posted by ihavea325is

go to any machine shop, i got mine rebuilt for around 400

hope that helps

Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by thejlevie

That head looks awfully clean for 131k. Might it have been recently rebuilt?

Don't know- head came from a JY car.

Originally Posted by thejlevie

The carbon in the head and on the valves looks pretty normal. You could clean it off, but it will be back real soon.

I keep thinking the same thing. I considered just swapping the cam, springs, and intake parts onto my existing 885 head (167K on my car) and running with it, then selling this head off to recoup costs.

If I do that, the motronic harness is still in place, and I don't disturb my factory HG.

[thejlevie]

Since that head came off a JY car, I'd say that it was rebuilt shortly before the car went to the salvage yard. It is way too clean. That probably means that it has new seals and has had a valve job. Turning the camp to open valves for a look at the mating surfaces should reveal whether a valve job was done. If that turns out to be the case, I'd check the head for flatness and use it as-is. It would be less work to swap heads than to swap parts.

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by thejlevie

Since that head came off a JY car, I'd say that it was rebuilt shortly before the car went to the salvage yard. It is way too clean. That probably means that it has new seals and has had a valve job. Turning the camp to open valves for a look at the mating surfaces should reveal whether a valve job was done. If that turns out to be the case, I'd check the head for flatness and use it as-is. It would be less work to swap heads than to swap parts.

Good thinking. I never even thought about checking the mating surfaces to see if it was a rebuild.

What about the bent valve possibility that ihavea325is identified?

Note: I am a bolt-on king. I will unbolt/install anything- interior, suspension, stereo, body, etc. This is my first time removing anything more than a VC on a motor, so I don't know what is clean/dirty as far as internals go.

Thanks to all for the help so far.

[thejlevie]

I don't see anything in the pictures that suggests to me that you have, or don't have, a bent valve. Rotate the cam and watch each valve as it seats. If a valve is bent, it won't center on the valve seat.

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by thejlevie

I don't see anything in the pictures that suggests to me that you have, or don't have, a bent valve. Rotate the cam and watch each valve as it seats. If a valve is bent, it won't center on the valve seat.

I will take a look tomorrow. I had to replace the brakes on my Mother-in-law's corolla tonight. I got to use my new brake tool kit (same as the one that you can rent at AutoZone, but I only paid $33 to buy it from Amazon).

[kishg]

nothing looks bent there..

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by kishg

nothing looks bent there..

Yeah, the car was running prior to it being put in the JY, so my assumption (not ALWAYS safe to assume...) is that it was running without major issues.

[mkdonald]

You could do a leak test on the valves. Just take a turkey baster or syringe of some sort and squirt a little water into the ports. (Set the head up on something). Turn the cam and watch for leaks. I have one in my garage that looks perfect, but won't hold water. I need to get it rebuilt.

[graycat]

May be wise to get a machine shop to inspect the head, that's a lot of work to learn it had a problem... after install.
Might give local bmw dealer service dept a call and ask which machine shop they use? Some shops seem to "specialize" in brands, etc.

Donor head does look right clean, but an inspection fee may be well worth the peace of mind.

Great time to replace the coolant lines with head off! In your cyl head gasket kit will be a round one, about the size of a 25 cent piece, which is for the most rearward coolant line connect, and a pita to get to on installed engine. Machine shops often miss that one.

Good luck...
graycat

[kishg]

yeah definitely get it checked for cracks. some may not be visible to the naked eye.

[phenryiv1]

So when I call around, am I asking whether they will hot tank the head, check the deck, rebuild the head (don't think it is this one), etc.?

What am I asking about?

Also, what all needs to be stripped off? Can the valves and springs be left in place?

[kishg]

Originally Posted by phenryiv1

So when I call around, am I asking whether they will hot tank the head, check the deck, rebuild the head (don't think it is this one), etc.?

What am I asking about?

Also, what all needs to be stripped off? Can the valves and springs be left in place?

ask them to magnaflux it. how much needs to be stripped depends on your time, comfort level, tools and ability to pay for them to do that.

[phenryiv1]

I FINALLY found a shop (very close to me) who has done head work on European cars, and has done head work on a friend's E36 M44.

As soon as I talked to the guy, he had me convinced that he knows what he is doing, as he knew the motor codes off of the top of his head. That is good for something.

I have an appointment to meet with him on Tuesday to drop the head off at his shop.

Today, I spent an hour and stripped most of the head.

[Mossman11]

don't lay it down like that, the valves are open and protruding out and you have the full weight of the head on them. Put some pieces of wood around the edges or flip it upside down you can rest it on the valve cover studs.

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by Mossman11

don't lay it down like that, the valves are open and protruding out and you have the full weight of the head on them. Put some pieces of wood around the edges or flip it upside down you can rest it on the valve cover studs.

With the manifolds still on there, the head is at an angle and the valves don't touch the bench.