Damaged cylinder head - repair?

[jono]

I've acquired a tall block engine with a damaged cylinder head.

The head is in very nice condition except for the front section being collapsed - can anyone recommend a good UK aluminium welding company with experience of this type of repair.

Anything else I should be considering?

The head took a corner impact which also bent the cam sprocket on this side of the head. The head and cams are otherwise visibly intact but I am wondering if I should have the cam tunnels checked for alignment?

......I have the broken bits

Jon

[rgh0]

The weld repair should be practical. I would pressure test the head before welding to check for any other unseen cracks. After welding you should get the cam tunnels checked for straightness as the welding itself may cause the head to distort. I would check the cam for any cracks particularly at the groove in the first cam bearing as it may have had damage when the cam sprocket was bent.

cheers
Rohan

[andyelan]

Hi Jon

I have a head with similar damage to yours (although perhaps not quite so sever) and it's currently out with Damico Engines, near Snetterton, for weld repair (www.damico-engines.co.uk).
Based on what I've seen of his work he looks pretty good, however, I'm expecting my head back in the next couple of weeks so I can let you know then what sort of job he's done.

Regards
Andy

[jono]

Thank you both,

Andy - I would be very interested to hear how you come on with Damico. I'm in no special hurry so perhaps you could update me when your head comes back?

There is a vid on U Tube of Vulcan undertaking a very similar repair so I can see it is do-able...but at what cost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEcXMXxLkLA

Jon

[pharriso]

There is a vid on U Tube of Vulcan undertaking a very similar repair so I can see it is do-able...but at what cost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEcXMXxLkLA

Jon

That's a very good repair, but what the heck did DHL do? Drive the truck over the head? I always though wooden crating engine blocks/heads was OOT, but after reading this & a similar story elsewhere I am wiser,

[andyelan]

Hi Again

The work I've asked Damico to do for me is:-

Remove two broken cam bearing cap studs
Weld repair front timing chest
Machine top and bottom of head as necessary to restore gasket faces and re-machine "D" hole at front

For this work I've been quoted me ?250 plus an additional ?160 should it be necessary to line bore the bearing caps ( which I suspect it will )

Don't expect a quick turn-a-round though as the guys extremely busy at the moment

Regards
Andy

[Elan45]

I wonder if there is anyone on our side of the pond doing these kind of repairs. I have a Weber head that has the whole front of the timing chest gone and I have purchased a Stromburg head to be the donor of the replacement piece of metal.

The accident took off the most of the nose of the S3, bent back the motor mounts on the frame and made a pretzel of the gearbox mount. Since this is my car that was upgraded to 26R by the original owner, I think I will be looking for a flaired arch 26R nose, but so many of what I see are so drastic, and not for my tastes.

Roger

[rgh0]

Have a talk to John McCoy at Omnitech. If he cant do it himself then he will know someone who can

cheers
Rohan