Chipped head...fixable?

[kingston]

So, I purchased an 'i' model head to do my SETA 'e' to 'i' swap, and when I started cleaning it up today, I found this chip (center of picture). Should I have this welded (I assume it can be), or should I not worry about it. Supposedly came from a well-running car...

Thanks in advance for the help, guys!!

[Cabriolet]

ya it doesnt look bad enough to leak water into the cylinder but id never put that back on that way. many machine shops can weld in new material. and then resurface the head. $150ish. but look at the rest of the head, usually stuff like this means all the water inlets are messed up. id get a different head.

[slammin.e28]

Question for the OP:

Do you feel like removing the head after something goes wrong as a result of this imperfection?

I'd say there's a change it would work, and a chance it won't. Personally, because I only like doing things once, I'd get a new head.

[10Toes]

Thats fixable, some people weld acrosed that coolant passage when they go FI and it works just fine.

But it might be cheaper to just buy another used head.

[kingston]

Sigh...Wonder if I'll have problems with the next head...

What causes that in the water inlets? The other ones all appear to be fine...

[Cabriolet]

not every flushing the engine, bad water and not antifreeze.

[slammin.e28]

not every flushing the engine, bad water and not antifreeze.

= electrolysis.

Take a volt meter and ground it out, then stick the + in the coolant. If you get a mediocre voltage reading, FLUSH THAT SHIT!!!

There is a tolerance spec, but I donno what it is off hand.

[nando]

you could have the coolant passages welded, turbo motor style. the way the water flows doesn't really go through the middle but rather the ends (look at the gasket), so filling it all the way with material doesn't affect cooling. BMW actually did this to the later M30s to correct problems with the head flexing around the big empty voids, but never updated the M20 in the same way.

[kingston]

Hrmmm...I think I'm going to take it to a machinist and see what they say. I'd rather spend another $150 to get the head in good shape than to spend that amount on another head that may have other problems.

Blurg...Think I'm going to flush the coolant in my car this weekend!

[kingston]

Nando, thanks for the info! Thanks to all who posted!

[slammin.e28]

BMW actually did this to the later M30s to correct problems with the head flexing around the big empty voids, but never updated the M20 in the same way.

Because M20 < M30 every day.:p

[kingston]

slammin.e28guy, you've got 2 of my favorite cars...

[slammin.e28]

Thanks man. I love e28s and e46s. e46 was the last good one IMO. All downhill from there...

[kingston]

Agreed! My boss had an E46 M3 vert. Fun sucker to drive, although I'm not really a vert guy. There was a guy selling an E28 locally for peanuts, but it was such a heap I just couldn't pull the trigger. Maybe after I finish the (frankly pretty massive) to-do list on my car I'll start another project!

[slammin.e28]

That's where I'm at. The e28 is down getting tons of work done, then when that's done, the e46 is going down for tons of work. I've hoarded parts, just haven't put them on, lol. I need a reliable DD car and for now the e28 is out and the e46 is in.