Head rebuild advice for 103mm cut heads, Reweld or buy new, who's running 103? Options

[nditiz1]

EDIT: Head is toast. Looking to source replacement ones.





So I'm tearing into the FAT perfomance 2.6 engine. I was going to try to run it, but before that went to perform a leak down and saw a gaping hole in #4 next to the plug. I just removed the head and it looks good other than previous welding I assume FAT did when the built the heads. There is little material amount between the camber and the edge of the head due to the cut of 103 P&C. Is this just the evil of hipo engines or are better options out there? Should I have these rewelded OR buy new 103 cut heads? Who out there is running big power?

Also I know Raby spoke highly about FAT engines, but damn did they love RTV.

[Mikey914]

Size is ok, add additional oil capacity with an offset cooler and a temp gage. I wouldnt go any bigger, but its managable.

Replace the head and drive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

[porschetub]

Size is ok, add additional oil capacity with an offset cooler and a temp gage. I wouldnt go any bigger, but its managable.

Replace the head and drive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

Don't think it just as easy as bolting on another head,expect you need to get FAT to make another one up to match the other side ,numbers on the head would indicate specs I would say ?.
Then there is the question of how long will the remaining head hold up if the combustion floors are really thin as the OP mentioned ?.
Perhaps a reduction in CR may make them last longer but don't know in this case .
The effected cyl looks to have been running lean but hard to say if that was caused by the hole or detonation previously.
Remember back when I bought a set of heads off a well known builder in my country and needed them flycut for compression increase and he mentioned you can't cut then too deep with the big cylinders but with mine that was not an issue.
Don't think the solution is that straight forward.

[Mikey914]

Size is ok, add additional oil capacity with an offset cooler and a temp gage. I wouldnt go any bigger, but its managable.

Replace the head and drive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

Don't think it just as easy as bolting on another head,expect you need to get FAT to make another one up to match the other side ,numbers on the head would indicate specs I would say ?.
Then there is the question of how long will the remaining head hold up if the combustion floors are really thin as the OP mentioned ?.
Perhaps a reduction in CR may make them last longer but don't know in this case .
The effected cyl looks to have been running lean but hard to say if that was caused by the hole or detonation previously.
Remember back when I bought a set of heads off a well known builder in my country and needed them flycut for compression increase and he mentioned you can't cut then too deep with the big cylinders but with mine that was not an issue.
Don't think the solution is that straight forward.

It really should not be too hard to use new metal and machine to match. I would find a reputable machine shop and go from there. Unless it’s under warranty.