We always clean them really well, soak them down in break cleaner and go over with a magnifying glass. The break cleaner will stay wet in a crack while the surface dries off.
Or you could just put a torch to it. Then the metal will expand if there's a crack. But u r awesome 👍. Keep the vortex vids com. I got an 880 rebuilt to factory specs but it's still on stand and thinking of carb swap. Anyways, keep up the knowledge, I'm a sponge lol
This is great! Thank you for putting this out there - I wish I would have known this 6 months ago - would have saved me so much money. Awesome content!
@@cuttersperformance Yes I did. I new to all this and I had someone local take pretty big advantage of me - they sold me a Holley carb from a dump truck with governers all over it, and the heads were cracked in the same spot these were. I did not know better and thought I was getting a good deal. Yes, it is my fault for not knowing, but it takes a real butthead to take advantage of someone like that. This information you are putting out there is helping soooooo many people - thank you!
Sorry to hear that man! That sucks, but I've been in the same boat with people selling stuff online. Unfortunately some people don't care Let me know if there's any help/info you need and please share me videos so we can help more people that might need some help on their vortec heads
@@cuttersperformance I most certainly will share! I appreciate your content more than you know. This sort of thing is exactly what keeps people out of the hot water I got into. I ended up buying Vortec heads from the cylinder shop on eBay - GREAT people, and my car runs fantastic now!
Funny thing is I've been watching a couple of your videos the past day or so, and I went downstairs to check my 906 and 062 heads and found my 062 head has a crack in the typical center bolt. HOWEVER, it has been sleeved or pinned so it can't leak into the bolt area. Plan is still to take them to my local machine shop for final say.
just picked up a set ...both with idenical tiny cracks. Center bolt hole nearest the chambers. Didn't need flux once i cleaned them up and looked very closely. Mechanic friend says its from uneven torque patern when installing or removing. Either way, I'll be getting my money back from the yard.
Since the cracking seems to come from the water jackets have you experimented and sanded the water jacket openings smooth so there are less stress risers in the openings?
Personally I would attempt to fix that casting, I would clean out the cracks, then pre heat it, then I would TIG weld the cracks with silicone bronze filler rod, technically TIG brazing. If it worked great, if not, you’re not out much.
if i pull apart a vortec engine that doesnt have milky oil or pressure in the coolant system, or the valves arent burnt, and the head is cracked.....im running it. 5.2/5.9 magnum heads crack like crazy, and people still run them.
I used to do them with a hand cutter but couldn't get the best results. Its best done on a proper seat cutting machine to insure centered and round seats
I've seen them advertise but never used them personally. I'm not completely sold yet on speedmaster parts but I would like to see some of their stuff to see what it's like. Let me know what you think if you order a set
old school method, sprinkle the head with baby powder.
We always clean them really well, soak them down in break cleaner and go over with a magnifying glass. The break cleaner will stay wet in a crack while the surface dries off.
Very nice tip
Learning so much from you, really appreciate it.👍
Good presentation.
Or you could just put a torch to it. Then the metal will expand if there's a crack. But u r awesome 👍. Keep the vortex vids com. I got an 880 rebuilt to factory specs but it's still on stand and thinking of carb swap. Anyways, keep up the knowledge, I'm a sponge lol
I took four 062 heads to the machine shop three were cracked. Just by aftermarket, aluminum heads, cheaper, and less headaches
Hell yeah brother
This is great! Thank you for putting this out there - I wish I would have known this 6 months ago - would have saved me so much money. Awesome content!
No problem! Did you run into some cracked vortecs?
@@cuttersperformance Yes I did. I new to all this and I had someone local take pretty big advantage of me - they sold me a Holley carb from a dump truck with governers all over it, and the heads were cracked in the same spot these were. I did not know better and thought I was getting a good deal. Yes, it is my fault for not knowing, but it takes a real butthead to take advantage of someone like that. This information you are putting out there is helping soooooo many people - thank you!
Sorry to hear that man! That sucks, but I've been in the same boat with people selling stuff online. Unfortunately some people don't care
Let me know if there's any help/info you need and please share me videos so we can help more people that might need some help on their vortec heads
@@cuttersperformance I most certainly will share! I appreciate your content more than you know. This sort of thing is exactly what keeps people out of the hot water I got into. I ended up buying Vortec heads from the cylinder shop on eBay - GREAT people, and my car runs fantastic now!
@@donaldwarwick6780 Awesome to hear man! And thank you!
Upgrading from older heads?
I run a head that has a exhaust crack , it's still runs good, I'm gonna run it till I find a better alternative
Funny thing is I've been watching a couple of your videos the past day or so, and I went downstairs to check my 906 and 062 heads and found my 062 head has a crack in the typical center bolt. HOWEVER, it has been sleeved or pinned so it can't leak into the bolt area. Plan is still to take them to my local machine shop for final say.
you know its cracked,they cant tell you anything you dont already know.im a machinist as well.
just picked up a set ...both with idenical tiny cracks. Center bolt hole nearest the chambers. Didn't need flux once i cleaned them up and looked very closely. Mechanic friend says its from uneven torque patern when installing or removing. Either way, I'll be getting my money back from the yard.
Years ago I seen a crack in this same spot due to this guy not using antifreeze during a cold Texas winter
Just ordered!
Since the cracking seems to come from the water jackets have you experimented and sanded the water jacket openings smooth so there are less stress risers in the openings?
Personally I would attempt to fix that casting, I would clean out the cracks, then pre heat it, then I would TIG weld the cracks with silicone bronze filler rod, technically TIG brazing. If it worked great, if not, you’re not out much.
I've tig welded a few heads for my own engines (mostly aluminum) but most of the stuff I do is for customers and I just can't take the risk haha
Yeah absolutely I wouldn’t weld an iron head for a customer either, just my own stuff just for fun.
Exactly! But I appreciate your ingenuity!
did them heads come off a motor that was running hot
I don't have the history on the engine those came off of unfortunately. But I would imagine it was over heated
That reminds me of a freeze crack,
How many uses do you get from those Goodson cans?
Multiple. Best answer anyone can give you. You will probably use more cleaner than the dye and developer.
if i pull apart a vortec engine that doesnt have milky oil or pressure in the coolant system, or the valves arent burnt, and the head is cracked.....im running it. 5.2/5.9 magnum heads crack like crazy, and people still run them.
How do you cut the valve seats for 202/160?
I used to do them with a hand cutter but couldn't get the best results. Its best done on a proper seat cutting machine to insure centered and round seats
Hell yeah man just what i needed just tore down my 97 vortec you think bigger valves are necessary on these heads for a street rod
I would not waste your money on larger valves, a mild port job has been proven to be much more effective 👌 especially around the valve seat
no,not worth the time.
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 video coming soon comparing, vortec heads ported to vortecs with 2.02/1.6 valves on the flow bench!
Do you know anything about the cast iron speedmaster sbc heads?
I've seen them advertise but never used them personally. I'm not completely sold yet on speedmaster parts but I would like to see some of their stuff to see what it's like.
Let me know what you think if you order a set
@@cuttersperformance lol, I was hoping you already jumped that bridge,
@@vtwinaddicted5852 Maybe I will have to try them out on a up coming build
Wonder how many won't pass mag test but will pass pressure test.
If cracking is common should just buy new heads ?
Common on the early castings
@@cuttersperformance Where is the date code or what early years ?
@@RichieCat4223 the ones thats are made in mexico are less prone to cracking. But they also flow less unfortunately
@@cuttersperformance OK thanks
dont scrap them, fix them. if you keep scraping them there wont be any left.
Thats why I have a pile of cracked ones sitting in the corner lol