2004 Tahoe - Cracked Castech Head - Need Advice

[ra8643]

Ok, so my dealer got back to me today. My 2004 tahoe has cracked castec head with the usual leak location. Should I pay 1500-2000 to replace both or 1000 to replace the cracked one? Vehicle has 72,000 miles.

 

My thoughts are that the heads probably come from a different mold (different sides), so I wonder how likely it would be for the other one to fail. It would really be nice to have fail rate data to make a decision on whether to replace both or not.

 

Does anyone have any advise?

 

Thanks,

Joseph

[txab]

If it were mine, I'd replace both. But, I be doing them myself so that definitely influences my decision. If you're keeping the vehicle for a good while yet, it's probably best to do both. Let us see if anyone that has had your experience chime in

 

Where do you live in TX?

[ra8643]

Hi Txab. I live in Cypress, which is right outside of Houston. I think I could tackle replacing the heads myself. The only problem is that my wife and I both work - so a down vehicle = big trouble. At least my dealer is nice enough to give us a loaner.....

 

Joseph

[txab]

I know it's hard to find time to work on vehicles. It's especially bad when you need the vehicle up and running ASAP. See if the dealer will give you the old heads. They're aluminum.... take them to a scrap yard and make few $$ off them.

 

Abilene here, BTW.

[WilliamBos]

Is there any way of telling if I have Castech heads on my truck without pulling the valve covers??

[txab]

Nope

 

 

For those that may not have seen the TSB.

 

Here it is:

 

TSB for Castech heads

[ra8643]

Thanks for the tip about the scrap metal value. I'll see if they will give them to me.......

[txab]

They ought to give them back to you. You'll be the not so proud owner of 2 sets. You can bet they are selling them off.

 

You might call a local metal recycler to see what they would pay. I just sold old aluminum siding for at least $.50 per pound, I'll have to check. I know should get no less than $.25 per pound. You may need to remove the valves and valve hardware to get top $ for them.

[Nytemare]

You should be able to do a complete top end rebuild in about a day, so you may have to call in sick...or take the old looser cruiser (Bus) if available.

 

Heads are $500 a piece for remans

You will need to replace the Head bolts $25 head gaskets $50, intake gaskets, $45-60 depending on the style you choose,valve cover gaskets...no use having oil leaks after its done $20 and exhaust gaskets $50 at 72K miles I wouldn't worry about replacing valve-train...but you can if you want.

 

Or you can say screw it and get a reman engine for 2900, with 450 core charge included...http://info.rockauto.com/Marshall/detail.htm

This will set you back to 0 miles and the problems are fixed for about 1000 bucks more than they want to charge you at the dealer to replace both heads.

 

Look for your parts on this website http://www.rockauto.com...parts are fairly cheep there and will give you an idea of price if you buy at a local parts store.

[ra8643]

Thanks for the information. I guess I am just going to end up having the dealer do it. Their price "guess" was $1000, ends up to be actually $1700 (for one head).

 

I have actually opened a case with GM on the issue. Well see where that goes (it really seems unfair that they shipped crap and now expect the customer to pay for 100% of the repair). I have read on other forums of people getting them to pay 1/2, so maybe they will come back with some type of concession.......

 

Joseph

[Nytemare]

Thanks for the information. I guess I am just going to end up having the dealer do it. Their price "guess" was $1000, ends up to be actually $1700 (for one head).

 

I have actually opened a case with GM on the issue. Well see where that goes (it really seems unfair that they shipped crap and now expect the customer to pay for 100% of the repair). I have read on other forums of people getting them to pay 1/2, so maybe they will come back with some type of concession.......

 

Joseph

That's ****in robbery!!!!....1700 a head is total BS.

I could do both of them for less than that, I would say 1500 for both heads, parts and labor, at my shop. Hell I could put Edelbrocks on for a few hundred more. I would check into a local repair shop before I went to the dealership.

 

Unless you can get them to flip a portion of the bill. Good luck man...hope you get something from them.

[WilliamBos]

That's ****in robbery!!!!....1700 a head is total BS.

I could do both of them for less than that, I would say 1500 for both heads, parts and labor, at my shop. Hell I could put Edelbrocks on for a few hundred more. I would check into a local repair shop before I went to the dealership.

 

Unless you can get them to flip a portion of the bill. Good luck man...hope you get something from them.

 

 

I agree. Unless GM is footing some of the bill, find a good shop to do it for less.

 

Are the Edelbrock heads any good?? What is GM using now for heads? Hope not Castech.

[Nytemare]

Don't know how good they would be for a work truck, but they used them on a new Vette and made 480@6500/430@5000 with only a cam....no tuning. Little high in the revs for a truck....but good numbers, this was on a 6.0L Z06.

 

According to the service bulletin, only a limited number of heads are Castech...I have no idea who else makes heads for GM though.

 

It may be a good idea to pull the covers and have a look to see what is exactly on all of our trucks for heads...and have a look if a leak may be starting to develop...a set of cover gaskets are only 20 bones...or less.

[ra8643]

Update - well GM told me no help.

[spock]

Update - well GM told me they wouldn't pay me a dime. Looked into a small claims lawsuit - but since I would be suing the old "shell" of GM, I would likely never recover my money.

 

Last GM product I will ever buy. They can go straight to hell.

I'm with you. That's BS that they won't help you out. A defective casting (mfg defect) is unacceptable in this day and age and the mfgr should goodwill a replacement. If I ever get this issue it's trade in time.