Jim
.
My humble opinion on used heads is that you throw them away and use the new
AMC heads after you replace the poor quality valves they come with
 The JB weld does not stick to the pits in the heads unless you clean them
out with a drummel tool or glass bead. I stopped using rebuilt heads years
ago due to the fact that they are cracked regardless if you can see the
cracks or not and they are more likely to fail when put back into service
even if they did not leak or show signs of cracking.
On an engine with 190K on it should not be getting heads but an overall due
to the mileage
A cross hatch on the WBX engine is normal no matter the miles this is a wet
sleeve engine. The cylinders are keep at a nice constant temp because they
are surrounded with coolant

going faster miles an hour with the radio on
I remain
Bob Donalds
Boston Engine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 3:16 PM
Subject: Question about 2.1 cylinder and head question

>A few minutes ago I finished pulling the heads on my 2.1 in
> anticipation of installing new head gaskets and fuel hose.
>
> Cylinder question: the car has 190K miles on it, and I noticed I could
> feel no lip inside the cylinder... none. Upon closer inspection with a
> light, I can still see the crosshatch from the factory. Is this normal?
> Unusual?
>
> Head question: I'm not going to do anything to the heads but clean them
> up and stick them back on with new gaskets. They are pitted, though,
> and I am going the JB weld route. Should I just send the heads to a
> shop and have them cleaned? Do it myself? How much should I expect to
> pay for just a cleaning? I assume they will have to pull the  springs
> and valves.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim
>