G40 Head Wanted

[stu g4T]

I'm after a G40 head as mine has cracks across 3 of the valves 

I have been told that a standard head can be used as long as I swap the valves and the cams.

Can someone confirm or deny this?

If confirmed then all I need is a normal polo head.

Who's got what out there?

Based in Southampton so nearer to here the better

Cheers

Stu

[PeteG40]

need a 1.3 head mk3 but yes thats correct.

On another note - many do have cracks.  did they pressure test it??? if it pressure tests fine, i'd not be too bothered.  Apparently golf kr heads crack on first start up!

[Etches]

need a 1.3 head mk3 but yes thats correct.

On another note - many do have cracks.  did they pressure test it??? if it pressure tests fine, i'd not be too bothered.  Apparently golf kr heads crack on first start up!

[stu g4T]

Cheers Pete,

Unfortunately too late to pressure test as its off the engine now.
Would prefer to replace with an uncracked one just to be sure!

Think I may have one lined up.

Stu

[PeteG40]

no - they pressure test it off the car at the machine shop to ensure no  leaks

[stu g4T]

I didn't think of that.

Thanks for the heads up.

[hayesey]

you'll have a hell of a job finding one without any cracks in it at all.  Nearly all of them will have hairline cracks between the spark plug hole and valve seat.  Often between the valve seats too.  It's not actually anything to worry about, it is the case on many heads on many cars.

The bloke who did my big valve head says it's incredibly rare to get one without any cracks (and he has probably seen more polo heads than any one else).  He said the same applies to golf tall block heads too (again, he's done 100s of these over time, he used to, if not still does, do all of jabbasports heads), he reckons they pretty much crack as soon as the engine is first run when the car is new.  

[hayesey]

also, to properly pressure test a head it needs to be off the car and put on a pressure testing rig.  A decent cylinder head re-builder should be able to do this for you.

[cheddarcheese]

i have a head for sale! every thing but cam!