There was a time I was as down on my 603 as Mack is now. When I bought my SDL, I was not as careful about researching the head issue as I should have been. The head had supposedly been replaced only about 100,000 before I bought it so I assumed all was okay. Unfortunately, I lived quite a ways from the seller, so we met in the middle. Therefore, I did not have a chance to check for cold pressure in the cooling system and was even too stupid to check the casting number. All was fine for about the first 5000 miles I drove it, then it slowly started to lose coolant. In that time I can say absolutely for sure it was not overheated. But, as time went on my coolant use increased and eventually led to replacing the head with a -16 casting to the tune of about 3,000 in total. At the time I was about ready to roll the car off into a ditch and throw a match in it, but I have since had at least most of my faith restored in it (except for all the little things the idiot mechanics screwed up that I have had to fix).

Moral of the story is that I wouldn't let the -14 head completely turn you off to the 603 engine in general. But, before purchasing, be sure to check for cold pressure in the cooling system. Also take the head into account when setting the purchase price. Be aware of the fact that the day may come when you need to drop that 3,000 for a different head. You can name problems with almost any engine ever manufactured. You just have to make a calculated gamble and increase your odds by doing your homework and being prepared.

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Keep everything as simple as possible-but no simpler--Albert Einstein