Cylinder Head Re-furbishment

[NickA]

Just spent a happy few hours removing both cylinder heads.

When I build up the current engine it was done on a bit of a shoe string so I'm musing what to do with heads as I didn't touch them last re-build. It's actually only the left hand head that I need to address as I've got a NOS right hand one ready to bolt on.

Options could be as follows:

1) source a NOS left hand head to match the right. I missed the one on eBay last month but at £500 that seems a bargain. I've emailed the seller to see if he's got any more but no response so far. Suspect this is a none starter as NOS ones must be as rare as rocking horse what not.
2) buy a reconditioned head. Is this just me or are these in short supply? The source of good heads for reconditioning must be dwindling. Rimmers now only seem to sell heads for reconditioning so do they know something I don't. or have they had too many issues with reconditioned ones?
3) have mine reconditioned. It's never had a skim and doesn't have any corrosion on the face near the waterways just the usual pitting where the gaskets have blanked a hole. The main issue is that the cam bearings are shot. I guess it would need fairly major (read expensive?) surgery? I seem to remember you can have rover 2000 inserts fitted? Anyone gone down this route?

Any thought, idea's & suggestions gratefully received

On a separate note should the head gaskets have stuck to either the head or block or both? Mine didn't they just lifted off. I thought they would "activate" somehow once heated and stick on. Or am I talking cobblers as usual?

Cheers

Nick

[Staghound]

Get your own heads rebuilt,the hassle I have endured trying to find a suitable head to replace the one I split is not worth it,spend the money rebuilding your own and do them to unleaded spec while they're off(TR7 exhaust valves)! I'm waiting to see if my left side head can be welded as I don't like the look of the crap I've seen as replacements.Just my humble opinion.

[flying farmer]

If your head has never been skimmed it is worth getting it rebuilt, most of the ones I have come across have been skimmed within an inch of there lives, or badly corroded or both.
I can't comment on the replacement cam bearings as I have never had it done, but when you say the cam bearings are shot do you mean they are badly scored (foreign bodies in the oil), or is it just that the cam is loose in its bore and the bearings are still smooth, because in this case the play can be taken out by lapping the bearing caps on a bit of wet and dry
The head gaskets do not stick, unlike the ones on the four cylinder OHV Triumph engines which are a pain in the a**e to remove
Neil

[nib]

I found Cambridge Rebores in Burwell very good when I took my head for a line bore and skim.
Mark

[NickA]

Thanks for the advice chaps; probably leaning towards refurbishment of my own head then.

Neil; the bearing are scored;

Mark; I'll give them a call as they're local; what work was done to your head and if the bearing were line bored did you have inserts fitted?

Cheers

Nick

[nib]

Hi Nick
When I bought a second hand camshaft and tightened down the caps it was very hard to turn the cam,they just line bored the cam housings to suit my camshaft.
Mark