Cracked cast iron heads can be repaired by welding, but it is a bit of a
specialty. I see rebuilt/welded heads for sale by some of the suppliers
in Seattle, but I have no experience with them. If you want to go this
route find a shop with experience in welding heads, it requires heating
the head and slow cooling to minimize the stresses caused by the high
welding temperature.
On a somewhat related note, I have purchased two MGBs recently that had
poor quality radiators ('68 to '74 types), and this can lead to
overheating which in turn can crack the head. Indeed, one of these cars
had a cracked head.
These radiators had three instead of four rows of tubes in the core and
no baffle on top. The baffle is critical, since the inlet and outlet of
these radiators is on the same side, and without the baffle the coolant
will not flow properly through the entire core, it tends to circulate
only on that side. No baffle is needed on the early '62 to '67 radiators
since the inlet and outlet are on opposite sides, a design that had to
be changed to accommodate the emissions system air pump.
So, check to make sure you have a good radiator. I assume these were
after market units, so beware of them too. Fortunately, I have a good
radiator shop in Seattle that will recore my radiators properly for
$185. Check your area too before buying an after market unit.
--
Stuart MacMillan
'84 Vanagon Westfalia
'65 MGB (Driver)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring)
Assisting on Restoration:
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)
Parts cars:
'68 & '73 MGB, '71 MGB GT
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