924Board.org

nivekrs · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Location: Wisconsisn

Does anyone know of a good place I can purchase a rebuilt cylinder head for my '82na 924 or a place which will do a quality rebuild or my existing head.

Grenadiers · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 11:33 am Post subject:

How about a used one? Have a complete one from a '79.
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'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

nivekrs · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Location: Wisconsisn

Well, in trying to bring my old girl back to her younger years, I figured a head job would be necessary but I just don't feel comfortable doing more than taking the head out and reinstalling it. But a used or extra head might be something good to learn on.

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

Any competent machine shop should be able to take your head, or another one you purchase, and refurbish it -- clean it up, cut the valves, change seals and guides, straighten and/or plane mating surface, etc.

The decision you'll have to make is whether you'll have one done, then take yours off and replace it with the new (redone) one. Or, whether you take yours off and have it done while its off, then put it back on. Downtime would be your deciding factor...

nivekrs · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Location: Wisconsisn

Maybe I'll look for a cheap used head to send in to a machine shop. I was hoping there was a supplier who offered already rebuilt heads, but my search results haven't found anything but 944 and 924S rebuilt heads. Thanks for all the info.

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

Used ones are out there, but not so much any more. And you won't find one "on the shelf" unless it is another 924 owner. A machine shop won't have one.

My suggestion would be to search nearby by using this board to find someone that has an extra or can put you in touch with one. Just be sure to mic the head before you buy to be sure it is within rebiuldable tolerances -- 139.5 in height (??IIRC). Search here on 924.org to find the right specification and how to measure.

And if you can, have your machinist look for cracks, warpage, etc, as some of those things are not as fixable. Also, some parts are getting hard to find -- like 9mm valves are NLA and springs are tough too, so you need to think about that, as in reuse what you have or switch to 8mm, which has its own set of issues to deal with...

I've rebuilt thinner than spec but YMMV if you work with a head thinner than the minimum...better to start with something that's within spec, clean it up and reuse as much as you can...

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

!tom · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 4:24 am Post subject:

And valve timing changes as the head height changes as well, unless you have an adjustable cam timing gear.
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78 924 NA
5-lug

nivekrs · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Location: Wisconsisn

That gives me a lot to consider guys. Thanks for the info. I'm spending a lot of time studying the subject in my Haynes manual. Just don't want to make problems removing something that might very well be operating fine.

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

When I did my top-end refresh on my '81, all that was required was re-lapping the valves. Unless you have noticeable valve guide wear, you can probably do the same, which greatly reduces the work (and expense) of refreshing the top end. At that point, just get a head gasket set, which contain everything you need for the head (including new valve guide seals).
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

nivekrs · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Location: Wisconsisn

That sounds like something I might be able to do.

the_mad_electrician · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1073 Location: Central Georgia

I got a used head in good shape from a pull-a-part for less tham $50
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81 924 N/A

2004 Ranger "Edge"

2005 Mazda 6

JSMotors · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 22 Location: Howell, Mi

My neighbor is a machinist thats works for roush(lucky me) and when he was kind enough to rebuild my head after it cracked he had an issue with finding new parts for it- I believe the seats and retainers and such, got new valves and springs no problem. He made me new ones, but i'd imagine it would have been costly if i'd been charged for that. Just something to consider.

nivekrs · Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 55 Location: Wisconsisn

wow! I didn't know this would be that much of a challenge. I figured the actual work would be the hard part. I guess either way, a good cleaning would do a lot. I think I'm leaning towards buying a good used one and having it cleaned and move from there. I'm not leaning towards taking my current head off until I know I have a good one to put on .
Hey Ideola, what did your head job actually consist of? I need to jump in and learn about this. Is this something a novice Haynes manual mechanic could handle. I think my old girl deserves some TLC and effort from my end.