Cylinder head on 29 AA Good or bad?

[1oldman57]

I had seepage around my head gasket. Mostly oil and not water. I removed the head and took it to a automotive machine shop to have it resurfaced. They mag the head for cracks. They found this one small crack in a combustion chamber. Is the head no good? They seem to think so. What is your opinion? I am thinking of putting on a Snyder high compression head. Any thoughts? Check out picture attached.

Tim

[BrianT]

Hello Tim.
I wouldn't bother with it, the cost to fix and resurface it would most likely would be 1/3 of a 5/5 head from Snyders, which you should also look at closely for defects, in addition install the grey gasket made by the Best Gasket Company, stay away from the Silicone type.

[ModelAkid]

The crack looks repairable but might cost more to fix than another good used head. It seems like there are lots of extra heads around, $50 ea. would buy a truck load. If you belong to a Model A Club chapter I'm sure there are members with extra heads they would sell. If you are in the U.P. Michigan in late Sept. I'll fix you up with one for $40.
BTW that crack would not account for the gasket leakage you originally wanted to fix. I use original heads and original copper/asbestos head gaskets and make sure to properly torque them down, and have no problems, not even with an original high compression "police head". There are special head gasket sealing compounds available that might help. With other gaskets I usually just use a coating of grease.

[Stakebed]

The crack looks repairable but might cost more to fix than another good used head. It seems like there are lots of extra heads around, $50 ea. would buy a truck load. If you belong to a Model A Club chapter I'm sure there are members with extra heads they would sell. If you are in the U.P. Michigan in late Sept. I'll fix you up with one for $40.
BTW that crack would not account for the gasket leakage you originally wanted to fix. I use original heads and original copper/asbestos head gaskets and make sure to properly torque them down, and have no problems, not even with an original high compression "police head". There are special head gasket sealing compounds available that might help. With other gaskets I usually just use a coating of grease.

i used a copper sandwich type gasket with a good coat of that copper spray gasket sealer. worked good on the model A - only ran on test stand but no issues. used plenty on modern cars with alot higher compression with no issues.