I found a head complete with valves and cam shaft in a dumpster, should I take it a part for fun?

Question

I picked up a head that has valves and cam shaft intact.
It is dirty, but I figure I can soak it in solvent. I am interested
in taking it a part just for the fun of it, and then reassembling it.
Am I just spitting in the wind, or could this be a learning project?
I have never done any type of head work before.

Answer 1

go for it. Check out a service manual from the local library,so you can see how a head is properly serviced..you may need a valve spring compressor, you can rent one..Be careful if you mess with valve springs, they can take your fingers off!!

But have fun and see what oil/water passages run from where to where..maybe you'll find out why someone tossed that head in the first place, maybe it's warped, or has a crack in it..
Good luck

Answer 2

I'm surprised no one has told you to be careful removing the valve springs. Their under tremendous amount of pressure and could take a finger eye or any other body part near by apart. But yes experiment and learn how to identify what type of head, cam and valves are standard for this type of head and or engine. Have Fun.

Answer 3

A head could be a good starting block if your looking to learn some fundamentals of engine rebuild, its a little simple though and my advice to you would be to go to the nearest junkyard and pick up an entire engine, block, head(s), crank, etc if you live in CT let me know ill set you up w one (ive worked at several) at either rate most yards will be happy to give you a whole motor for cheap especially if its seized or otherwise junk, you could even look into getting somthing thatd be worth some money if you di a complete rebuild this way when your done learning off it youll actually get paid for your time, I personally had this one (really cute i might add) girl who went to a tech school and use to come to my yard for differnt parts to dissasemble every time she had a differnt class id give her trannys or motors or whatever for free but after she broke them down the condition ws shed have to bring them back in w/ all the differnt types of metal seperated and no plastics or rubber parts, this meant we could sell it for a higher scrap price and didnt have to do any of the work, she liked it cuz shed get a free motor or tranny, any size shape, etc she wanted for loan for as long as she wanted, you could scope out some sort of arangment like this w/ your local bone yard and im sure theyd be happy to ablige

hope this helps and have fun, mechanics can be a really intresting field

Answer 4

sure, tear it down and learn how to do it. Good experience.

You will need a valve compressor tool. The head is most likely cracked or too thin to resurface so it can't be reused but it is great for practice. I'm surprised the owner didn't take it in for scrap metal, the price is up here lately.

Answer 5

IT WOULD BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE BUT HARD WITHOUT THE MANUAL OF THE VEHICLE FROM WHICH THE HEAD WAS PULLED OUT FROM. U WOULD NEED SPECIALTY TOOL USUALLY U CAN BORROW THESE FROM URE LOCAL PARTS STORE.
MANUAL TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT TORQUE LBS ON EACH BOLT FOR REASSEMBLY AND A SPRING COMPRESSOR TO TAKE OFF SPRING AND RETAINERS.

Answer 6

Free is better than Cheap! Take it apart, and soak it all in, clean it up reassemble it and sell it on Ebay! Whatever you want, you found it in a dumpster.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Go for it! I would! You'll get practice on teardown and reassembly as well as inspection. Any opportunity to learn!

Answer 9

yes you should take the head a part and learn and you can sell it on e bay

Answer 10

yes take it apart learning about how cars run will help you to maintain your own cars