Quote:
Originally Posted by bsmuwk
For what it's worth, it's not a matter of preservation - the head WILL crack and has most likely already started. I think the lowest mileage 603 I've pulled apart had 27k on it, and it was already cracking at the prechamber.
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Again, a pretty broad/sweeping generalization that's pretty unfair. Why would the head come off a 27K mile car unless there were problems? If it cracked that early (and that's why the head was coming off?), it would indicate a manufacturing defect, not a design fault.
The head came off my SDL for valve work at 173K on the odo (no idea what the actual mileage was since the odo had stopped) and had zero cracks, zero warpage, and still had the factory head gasket fitted.
They can last if looked after. Sure the later castings are stronger, but there are enough 14 heads out there running that says they're better than people like to think they are.