Replacement Cylinder Heads - where to source

[Mike.R.R]

My Stag requires replacement Cylinder Heads (both) - Cam shafts and valves etc. are all good so I'd be really grateful for some thoughts on where to source the "bare" heads from.

Thanks for any help.

Mike

[MandM]

All the usual, second hand parts suppliers, I think I right in saying that there are no new heads available at this time, there was a project a few years ago, sometimes you see a couple of new heads come up on ebay but that's unusual . Pardon for asking but who has said you need new heads?

I'm sure someone with more experience will be along shortly, to add their wisdom

[wilf]

I would be surprised if Tony White did not have some.

[mole42]

To echo Martin: “who has said you need new heads”?

Many head issues are recoverable by either welding, skimming, shimming or replacing valve guides or seats.

[jbuckl]

Overskimming can be addressed by savashims.

some corrosion can be welded….. not all.

cam bucket bores can go to an oversize, or even sleeved…. But sleeves will be spendy to supply , fit and machine.

cam bearing repairs and line boring does appear to be a bit tricky to get done sensibly though, from recent experience.

so good used makes sense, but prior inspection and measurement is key for agreement on price.

[Mike.R.R]

Firstly thank you all very much for taking time to reply and your comments are very much appreciated.

The one comment that is most clear was the "who said you need new heads?" - It was the owner of a well established garage close to my home. He is not only convenient but he's also well regarded locally and he is the owner of a Stag himself (not a member of SOC). He knows a lot more than I do but, to be honest so does almost everyone! He's done several small jobs for me and I've built up some good feelings of trust in his knowledge and ability.

He sorted out an leak from my Borg Warner automatic gear box but as he was doing this he found that there was a water leak from the Cylinder Head gasket.
He said he would need to take the head off to see what the problem was. On getting the head off he found pitting and holes that led him to the conclusion that the head was not in condition that would justify keeping it.
He pointed to the pits and holes that he said were too close to the cylinder and that they were the cause of the problem and that even if they had worked for a while, they would soon give problems and the person doing the last work would have known this. I accepted his word. He told me that he wouldn't be interested in having any contact with the earlier repairer.

He asked if the SOC had a source of replacement heads - hence my message.

Since posting my message I've been feeling more and more concerned as the heads were "repaired" and "refurbished" 3 years ago by a well known Stag specialist that is about an hours drive away. I suspect that they will still be fine but I don't have the confidence to simply tell my local fellow that he should just rebuild the engine with new gaskets!

The Stag specialist sent me a collection of pictures at the time he was fitting the refurbished heads. I've attached pictures from when they were about to be fitted and they have travelled only about 3000 miles since.

Your comments would be very much appreciated.

I'd also like to know if you have contact details for Tony White?

Thanks again,

Mike

[Paul Kelley]

Hi Mike. I can't comment on your photos but, if you do need to replace them, another person to try is Paul at Stag Classics in Alton Hampshire. He rebuilds Stags and has built up an Aladdin's cave of parts. Good luck.

[DJT]

I'd also like to know if you have contact details for Tony White?

​

Tonywhite

Have a look on his ongoing thread in For Sale, Wanted, Swap: After 25 Years of Hoarding

[mike@thenook]

I got my last set from Robsport, very helpful and will do whatever is needed to get yours in shape

[wilf]

By Googling, I see Robsport have some.

[Tonywhite]

Have 15-20 pairs of heads available and forty engines waiting to have their heads removed.

[richardthestag]

those faces do look like someone has been at them with a grit blaster at some point!

They also look to be very close to the last skim but difficult to tell at that resolution.

Your challenge will be finding a better pair, and I wager that Robsport will think very hard before paying back the surcharge on your pair.

May be worth consulting with a machine shop regarding welding the pits that are close to the fire ring, and / or using savershims. That approach could reward you with significant savings.

[Goldstar]

As Richard says it’s hard to tell from those pictures but the top head looks like it’s pretty scratched up, especially between the middle 2 combustion chambers.

if I read it correctly this is before they were fitted 3k miles ago? I don’t think I would have fitted them without a clean up on a flat plate surface with a bit of 240 grit but hard to tell. It certainly looks like they have had their last skim. 020” savershims might save you.

[Goldstar]

As Richard says it’s hard to tell from those pictures but the top head looks like it’s pretty scratched up, especially between the middle 2 combustion chambers.

if I read it correctly this is before they were fitted 3k miles ago? I don’t think I would have fitted them without a clean up on a flat plate surface with a bit of 240 grit but hard to tell. It certainly looks like they have had their last skim. 020” savershims might save you.

[Mike.R.R]

Thank you very much to everyone that has taken time to respond - I’m delighted with the level of response on this Forum.


I’ll be in touch with most relevant responders, separately from this reply, later today.


Thanks again,


Mike