Cracked Head!!!!

[giddyup50]

Hey guys, my cousin has a 99 Bird 3.8. He has a cracked head. He's 17 and I guess he doesn't pay attention to the guages like he should. His waterpump went out and he kept driving!!! What is a ballpark figure to replace the heads? Or should he replace the whole engine, as some people said you have to do with a 3.8?

He's talking about throwing a LS1 350 (348?? Same damn thing to me) in it. I told him he'd be better off just getting a LS1 car as far as the $$$ goes. Why do people always think they can just throw a V8 into a base engine car? If they are not going to use FI and all the computer stuff then fine, but you can't just put the V8 in and expect everything to work....correctly. Not to mention the suspension, trans., rearend, and cooling systems are not as strong in the base engine cars.

[blindeyed]

Originally Posted by giddyup50

Hey guys, my cousin has a 99 Bird 3.8. He has a cracked head. He's 17 and I guess he doesn't pay attention to the guages like he should. His waterpump went out and he kept driving!!! What is a ballpark figure to replace the heads? Or should he replace the whole engine, as some people said you have to do with a 3.8?

He's talking about throwing a LS1 350 (348?? Same damn thing to me) in it. I told him he'd be better off just getting a LS1 car as far as the $$$ goes. Why do people always think they can just throw a V8 into a base engine car? If they are not going to use FI and all the computer stuff then fine, but you can't just put the V8 in and expect everything to work....correctly. Not to mention the suspension, trans., rearend, and cooling systems are not as strong in the base engine cars.

I'd recommend him to check out eBay to find a new head and to then take it to a shop for repairs. There may also be other components damaged as well, best to have it all thoroughly check out. I'd also tell him that if he wants an LS1, then he really should start off by learning how to maintain the engine he's already got.

[poormillionaire2]

When I read the title, I thought, "What a perfect reason to get new heads" but then I read on and found out its on a 6. If he wants a V8, yeah, just buy a car with one already in it. If he cracked a head driving it, I don't think he could handle a swap.
Replacing the head in itself would be expensive as repairs go.

[giddyup50]

Yeah, like we both stated, if he wants a V8, he might as well just buy a T/A. Because not only the expense, but don't you have to install the engine through the bottom with the front suspension and all that crap together? What a pain in the ass!!

I was wondering what else might be damaged by the overheating/cracking of the head. He might just be better off to sell the car and get something else. He should get a really good car....LIKE A MUSTANG!!! Thank you!

[FormulaLT1]

The engine can come out threw the top. I did it three time on my larger LT1 but I hear its easier threw the bottom. Here is a place in IL that has your friends head for like 50 bucks incase he just decides to swap the sucker.

Black Lane Auto USA-IL(Caseyville) Request_Quote 1-800-533-5477 Request_Insurance_Quote

[giddyup50]

Originally Posted by FormulaLT1

The engine can come out threw the top. I did it three time on my larger LT1 but I hear its easier threw the bottom. Here is a place in IL that has your friends head for like 50 bucks incase he just decides to swap the sucker.

Black Lane Auto USA-IL(Caseyville) Request_Quote 1-800-533-5477 Request_Insurance_Quote

Can he just swap them? Could there be more damage to other parts of the engine?

[FormulaLT1]

Originally Posted by giddyup50

Can he just swap them? Could there be more damage to other parts of the engine?

He should remove the head and look at the damage before just purchasing a head but most likely its a gasket issue or a crack in the head versus any block damage and yes he can just swap a new head on with some new gaskets if that is the case. He will want to mill the heads down slightly though to assure a nice clean flush mating surface.