Cylinder head source?

[Hoppy]

I am going to look at a Cabriolet, not sure what year but it has the 3rd brake light in the trunk, dual headlights, and body kit. I am thinking it may be a 87-89? Anyway speaking with the owner he says oil is getting into the coolant (or visa-versa) so it will need a new head is there a reputable source for getting a rebuilt or used head?

John

[Briano1234]

That could be a sign of a bad head gasket.... a head can be purchased at a wrecking yard ebay or the classifieds of this forum, vortex.

But I would strongly suspect the oil cooler if it has one. They are notorious for doing the intermixing, and are a hell of a lot cheaper than a head.

If you buy it.

Check the oil cooler first.

Then take the head off and have it checked at a machine shop...

[Hoppy]

Thanks Brian, now that you mention it I had that scare with my '86 Cabriolet that turned out to be a coolant stop leak that the shop put in when I checked the coolant and it was oily looking (whew). I will quiz the owner more when I go to see it if they brought it to a shop and had it diagnosed as a head or if it is a guess. I am apprehensive of getting engine stuff from junkyards due to the potential problems they come with.

[Hoppy]

Well I looked at it, it is a 1990 that appears in decent shape but has issues, the head area is wet and mixed dried coolant on it so there is a head problem, oil cap had beads of coolant on it as well, owner says they were putting alot of coolant in it before they stopped driving it, so I think the best bet would be to go with a remanufactured head.

It also needs a new top, and has a rebuilt aka salvage title, shows 98k on the odometer but I am guessing it stopped working a long time ago. The good news they only want $300 for it.

[kamzcab86]

Well, heck, for $300...

Anyway, unless the head is warped, I'd just replace the head gasket. If rebuilding the head is something you want to invest in (a local machine shop can that for you), you can go that route as well; but the gasket is far cheaper.

[Hoppy]

Would cleaning of oil from the cooling system like the radiator be required, and or cleaning the oil system?

[Briano1234]

Would cleaning of oil from the cooling system like the radiator be required, and or cleaning the oil system?

Since you have an intermix of oil, in the A/F... It would be very advisable to flush the cooling system.
One of the first things I do when acquiring a new ride is to replace all hoses belts, flush the radiator, exchange all fluids, ne cap rotor plugs and wires... Then I do all the brakes, as it is better to know where you are, then to get an unexpected surprise.

[Hoppy]

Yes I do that as well and this one will need it. I found a Carfax report in the glovebox and it eased alot of my worries of it being a lemon and some unknown history, so I am going to buy it and replace the head gasket and have the head checked for warpage and go from there.

[gull]

When I had a bad head gasket on my Vanagon, I used the Prestone radiator flush stuff to flush the oil out of the cooling system. It worked pretty well. It's a mild detergent.

You want to get the oil out because it will eventually soften the rubber hoses from the inside. It also tends to coat the inside of the radiator and reduce heat transfer.

[Hoppy]

Thanks for the tip Gull, the owner has kind of pulled the Cabriolet from under me for an unknown reason so I have decided not to persue it any longer which will save me money right now until the next one comes along.