Cracked head!

[1941coupe]

I saw some fluid on top of my cylinder head a while ago by #5 cyl., it was oil-like, but not immediately of great concern. After doing a cooling system flush and subsequent short trips, the strong green color of the fresh coolant began to make the crack more and more obvious. It started at a likely place, of which I'm sure is quite common, one of the head bolt holes.

Can anyone recommend a reputable local shop here in So.Cal. that specializes in head repair? I will have to have it magnafluxed, welded, and have a few thousands milled from the bottom to true it up. Hopefully it's not too far gone. Thanks.

[Jerry Roberts]

Why don't you replace it with a NOS head . Vintage power Wagons has them for $135 plus shipping . That is what I did with my cracked head , no magnafluxing , no plaining flat . Just clean off the preservitive and put it on . For the 218/230 engines , specify with or without the hump . 1-888-695-0578

[claybill]

or buy a used one for about 50 bucks plus ups..

bill

[1941coupe]

Thanks for the input Bill and Jerry, I will start calling tomorrow. I had no idea N.O.S heads were available although my engine is a 201.

Carlos

[Robert Smith]

Hey Carlos, didn't know you were on here!

Well, I'm sure if you call them and tell them what you have, they may have it! Never know!

I'm sure you'll be able to get a head for your '41! I mean, it's a Chrysler 6, not a head for a '29 Reo flying cloud... lol :-)

[michael.warshaw]

Ive got aused one for 65 dollars.

[claybill]

heads.... I have been told......and it makes good sense.....

if you put an early head on a later motor it will increase the compression. as if you had milled it.! maybe the smaller earlier pistons required a smaller compression chamber in the head. ???

anybody remember this comment/thread years ago.?

[claybill]

201....218 same. same headgaskets too. i have several of those also.

[1941coupe]

Hey Carlos, didn't know you were on here!

Well, I'm sure if you call them and tell them what you have, they may have it! Never know!

I'm sure you'll be able to get a head for your '41! I mean, it's a Chrysler 6, not a head for a '29 Reo flying cloud... lol :-)

I hope they have one that fits...naturally I would much rather replace it with a new one so I will call them tomorrow and see what's up. Oh and yes, many many of those heads were made Rob, it amazes me to know that I can get a n.o.s. head for it!

[claybill]

jerry...."with or without the hump" what do oyu mean.?

i just looked up a pic of a d-p/w. cant see much of the head..

bill

[RobertKB]

jerry...."with or without the hump" what do oyu mean.?

i just looked up a pic of a d-p/w. cant see much of the head..

bill

With or without the internal thermostat bypass bulge at the front of the head.

Edited June 19, 2012 by RobertKB

[Jerry Roberts]

jerry...."with or without the hump" what do oyu mean.?

i just looked up a pic of a d-p/w. cant see much of the head..

bill

Bill , Looking at the space between the front of the head and the water pump ... you can see a bulge that is a water passage in the head . Someone posted a nice photo of the " hump " head a while back . The non-hump head is just straight across the front .

[1941coupe]

201....218 same. same headgaskets too. i have several of those also.

So Bill, do you know of anyone that installed a 218 head on a 201? I'm curious if it would be trouble free. I am wondering if all the cooling passages would line up with the 201 block etc.

[JIPJOBXX]

I had my head machined .060" and boy what a difference in power!!!! Noticed it right away on the freeway.

[claybill]

41 coupe. not exactly. i read it here no forum some years ago.. i have done about 4 motor swaps, this and that....and when you have a head in hand...they all look alike....i dont know which is which..

bill

[Jerry Roberts]

So Bill, do you know of anyone that installed a 218 head on a 201? I'm curious if it would be trouble free. I am wondering if all the cooling passages would line up with the 201 block etc.

I posted your question over on the 1939 - 1947 dodge truck site . Some of those early trucks had the 201 engine .

[Jerry Roberts]

Here is the reply I got on that site ; Jerry,

Shouldn't be a problem, going the other way can sometimes be a worry as the valve recess cast into the head can be smaller. If you have the option to measure before you commit to buy, you can compare the openings. Also the more open combustion chamber will possibly lower compression a little, so you may want to plane it a little to square things up.

[claybill]

thanks....i thought so..

i looked it up on 'research' here on the forum and i found the post i was referring to..and lots of other info. hey the research column on this forum has just about everything.!! 'head bump'

b

[dezeldoc]

If you meed a head i have 4 or 5 laying around, let me know i am in so cal also.

[1941coupe]

Thanks fellas,

I have talked to an old timer and he also said no problems. Yes, I figured that much about the possibly larger chamber and will have it milled a bit. So I have ordered a new one, It's an n.o.s. head from V.P.W with the bump. I don't want any more cracking issues and a new one is the way to go. I want to be able to drive the car anywhere and my aim is to make it as reliable as possible while at the same time keeping it as original as the reliability upgrades will allow.