If the heads have any cracks between the valves (even small) they are
junk and should be replaced.  However with 190k miles on the engine I am
not sure how much farther the whole engine should be expected to go.  If
money is an issue then you could look around for a good used engine
until you can get the money together for a rebuild.  If a rebuild is
something you can afford I would highly recommend it at this point and I
would get it from Boston Engine.

My personal opinion is that the main reason why waterboxer engines have
such a bad reputation for heads repeatedly failing is that folks put old
heads back on with small cracks and within 20k miles they are done and
you are doing the job over.  Just my 2cents.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

Jim Felder wrote:

> 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
>