I own and run an Automotive shop, a customer of mine brought me his 98 12v Dodge with a coolant leak, turns out the head is cracked towards the back head bolt, anyway, stock engine, stock truck, no mods, found a new aftermarket clyinder head from Clearwater Cylinder Heads for $600. Has anyone bought one of these and had good luck?
Thanks,
Tim

 

I have never bought one from them but with the price they are stating I'd make a guess that its one of the China castings that has been seen selling so cheap on other cylinder head sites(Alabama Cylinder Head sells them for about $450 complete).Some owners have had sucess with them,some have not and when I did mine a few years ago I just bought a new one from Cumminsas I didn't want to chance it.

You could also check with PDR Diesel Performance(Piers's old shop) up in the NW as I know they sell alot of heads in various stages of performance from stock to ported and o-ringed...........Andy

 

Pure Diesel Power (Garrett Shields) sells them however you want from stock up. I think they start at 600$

 

Why not go with a 2nd gen 24V head. Easier to come by and flows better with a minimum of work from everything I have seen on the subject.

 

With a 24v head you would have to have the injectors reset you would need new injection lines all of the rockers plus 24v heads like to drop seats not to mention the fact that the pistons are different.

 

So changing the pistons is minimum work? And when it comes down to it a 12v head will out flow a 24v head all day, comparing when they are both worked over, but stock a 24v win's the race.

All the new ones that are around 600-700 dollars are less are chinese. I havent heard really anything good about the casting, but havent heard of any failing.

But you can find used ones foor 150-300 all day, test for cracks and deck it, and you'll be good to go. Or wait a little longer and wait for Hamiltons new head to come out.

 

go with cummins cant go wrong that way

 

Bought the china-made, bone stock truck, should last I hope By the way, where do you buy the Cummins head at?
Thanks

 

at your local cummins store. i dont know where there at everywhere but i got one about 45 minutes from me. im sure there are guys online here that sell factory cummins parts as well