Over on the Yahoo Stroker list the aluminum head has been much
discussed, and the conclusion over there was that Patriot is the OEM and
Hesco and others are rebranding them. Who knows. The value for a 4.6 is
cooler running for higher CR. No need on a stock engine.

--
jeff

Simon Juncal wrote:
> James Hilins wrote:
>> 2001 TJ
>> ~89K miles
>> 4.0L manual T, AC
>>
>> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
>> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>>
>> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting
>> problem but create a bunch of other problems?
>> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>
> It seems as if no one here has heard about the 0331 head castings and
> their propensity to crack. I Believe the 01 TJ and every other 99+ 4.0
> has this head casting, I may be wrong but the Cherokee and ZJ do and
> there's plenty of XJ owners on naxja.com (a bunch of XJ enthusiasts) who
> have seen this cracked head.
>
> The Aluminum 4.0 head is made by HESCO, they are DAMN proud of it, to
> the tune of nearly $2000 dollars proud. Which is something like 19x the
> cost of a stock completely re-manufactured head. This diamond encrusted
> Aluminum head only shaves 30 pounds, and does not flow significantly
> better than the good stock castings that don't crack (castings 0630 and
> 7120).
>
> I say it doesn't flow significantly better because HESCO will not show
> actual Dyno sheets despite claiming they would show them many times. and
> they claim it's good for 10 to 15 HP more, but I'm betting it's more
> like 1 to 5 than 10 to 15. The only other advantage to this head is that
> the pushrod holes have been enlarged to allow pulling lifters and thus
> changing the cam without taking the head off.
>
> Also of note this head was avialable from summit with a different name,
> same head. At least HESCO claims it was theirs and someone took a bulk
> order and tried to rebrand them as "Patriot Aluminum heads" Don't know
> how true that claim is.
>

 

Over on the Yahoo Stroker list the aluminum head has been much
discussed, and the conclusion over there was that Patriot is the OEM and
Hesco and others are rebranding them. Who knows. The value for a 4.6 is
cooler running for higher CR. No need on a stock engine.

--
jeff

Simon Juncal wrote:
> James Hilins wrote:
>> 2001 TJ
>> ~89K miles
>> 4.0L manual T, AC
>>
>> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
>> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>>
>> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting
>> problem but create a bunch of other problems?
>> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>
> It seems as if no one here has heard about the 0331 head castings and
> their propensity to crack. I Believe the 01 TJ and every other 99+ 4.0
> has this head casting, I may be wrong but the Cherokee and ZJ do and
> there's plenty of XJ owners on naxja.com (a bunch of XJ enthusiasts) who
> have seen this cracked head.
>
> The Aluminum 4.0 head is made by HESCO, they are DAMN proud of it, to
> the tune of nearly $2000 dollars proud. Which is something like 19x the
> cost of a stock completely re-manufactured head. This diamond encrusted
> Aluminum head only shaves 30 pounds, and does not flow significantly
> better than the good stock castings that don't crack (castings 0630 and
> 7120).
>
> I say it doesn't flow significantly better because HESCO will not show
> actual Dyno sheets despite claiming they would show them many times. and
> they claim it's good for 10 to 15 HP more, but I'm betting it's more
> like 1 to 5 than 10 to 15. The only other advantage to this head is that
> the pushrod holes have been enlarged to allow pulling lifters and thus
> changing the cam without taking the head off.
>
> Also of note this head was avialable from summit with a different name,
> same head. At least HESCO claims it was theirs and someone took a bulk
> order and tried to rebrand them as "Patriot Aluminum heads" Don't know
> how true that claim is.
>

 

Over on the Yahoo Stroker list the aluminum head has been much
discussed, and the conclusion over there was that Patriot is the OEM and
Hesco and others are rebranding them. Who knows. The value for a 4.6 is
cooler running for higher CR. No need on a stock engine.

--
jeff

Simon Juncal wrote:
> James Hilins wrote:
>> 2001 TJ
>> ~89K miles
>> 4.0L manual T, AC
>>
>> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
>> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>>
>> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting
>> problem but create a bunch of other problems?
>> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>
> It seems as if no one here has heard about the 0331 head castings and
> their propensity to crack. I Believe the 01 TJ and every other 99+ 4.0
> has this head casting, I may be wrong but the Cherokee and ZJ do and
> there's plenty of XJ owners on naxja.com (a bunch of XJ enthusiasts) who
> have seen this cracked head.
>
> The Aluminum 4.0 head is made by HESCO, they are DAMN proud of it, to
> the tune of nearly $2000 dollars proud. Which is something like 19x the
> cost of a stock completely re-manufactured head. This diamond encrusted
> Aluminum head only shaves 30 pounds, and does not flow significantly
> better than the good stock castings that don't crack (castings 0630 and
> 7120).
>
> I say it doesn't flow significantly better because HESCO will not show
> actual Dyno sheets despite claiming they would show them many times. and
> they claim it's good for 10 to 15 HP more, but I'm betting it's more
> like 1 to 5 than 10 to 15. The only other advantage to this head is that
> the pushrod holes have been enlarged to allow pulling lifters and thus
> changing the cam without taking the head off.
>
> Also of note this head was avialable from summit with a different name,
> same head. At least HESCO claims it was theirs and someone took a bulk
> order and tried to rebrand them as "Patriot Aluminum heads" Don't know
> how true that claim is.
>

 

jeff wrote:
> Over on the Yahoo Stroker list the aluminum head has been much
> discussed, and the conclusion over there was that Patriot is the OEM and
> Hesco and others are rebranding them. Who knows. The value for a 4.6 is
> cooler running for higher CR. No need on a stock engine.

There's a stroker yahoo group? I guess I should have figured, there's a
lot of stroker owners on Naxja too naturally enough. Can you post the URL?

Anyway I wouldn't be surprised to learn that neither Hesco or Patriot
make that head. I just know it's too spendy to put in my XJ :)

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

 

jeff wrote:
> Over on the Yahoo Stroker list the aluminum head has been much
> discussed, and the conclusion over there was that Patriot is the OEM and
> Hesco and others are rebranding them. Who knows. The value for a 4.6 is
> cooler running for higher CR. No need on a stock engine.

There's a stroker yahoo group? I guess I should have figured, there's a
lot of stroker owners on Naxja too naturally enough. Can you post the URL?

Anyway I wouldn't be surprised to learn that neither Hesco or Patriot
make that head. I just know it's too spendy to put in my XJ :)

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

 

jeff wrote:
> Over on the Yahoo Stroker list the aluminum head has been much
> discussed, and the conclusion over there was that Patriot is the OEM and
> Hesco and others are rebranding them. Who knows. The value for a 4.6 is
> cooler running for higher CR. No need on a stock engine.

There's a stroker yahoo group? I guess I should have figured, there's a
lot of stroker owners on Naxja too naturally enough. Can you post the URL?

Anyway I wouldn't be surprised to learn that neither Hesco or Patriot
make that head. I just know it's too spendy to put in my XJ :)

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

 

James,

I had the same problem, only at 20Kmiles. Cracked head was the last thing my
dealer said, it was the first thing my private mechanic said.

Long story short, 5 visits hot air blown up my *** and some screaming at the
dealership and the Cracked head was replaced under warrantee. I have not had
an issue since. When i was looking into the issue, i had a 50 50 response.
That head never cracks / that head cracks all the time.

I had the same coolant problem. about a reseviour full every 1000 miles. No
leaks, no smoke, no foamy oil


Good luck on yours

JOHN
"James Hilins" <oldradio@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Fvq3h.48848$cc3.24215@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> 2001 TJ
> ~89K miles
> 4.0L manual T, AC
>
> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>
> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting problem
> but create a bunch of other problems?
> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>
> Jim
>

 

James,

I had the same problem, only at 20Kmiles. Cracked head was the last thing my
dealer said, it was the first thing my private mechanic said.

Long story short, 5 visits hot air blown up my *** and some screaming at the
dealership and the Cracked head was replaced under warrantee. I have not had
an issue since. When i was looking into the issue, i had a 50 50 response.
That head never cracks / that head cracks all the time.

I had the same coolant problem. about a reseviour full every 1000 miles. No
leaks, no smoke, no foamy oil


Good luck on yours

JOHN
"James Hilins" <oldradio@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Fvq3h.48848$cc3.24215@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> 2001 TJ
> ~89K miles
> 4.0L manual T, AC
>
> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>
> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting problem
> but create a bunch of other problems?
> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>
> Jim
>

 

James,

I had the same problem, only at 20Kmiles. Cracked head was the last thing my
dealer said, it was the first thing my private mechanic said.

Long story short, 5 visits hot air blown up my *** and some screaming at the
dealership and the Cracked head was replaced under warrantee. I have not had
an issue since. When i was looking into the issue, i had a 50 50 response.
That head never cracks / that head cracks all the time.

I had the same coolant problem. about a reseviour full every 1000 miles. No
leaks, no smoke, no foamy oil


Good luck on yours

JOHN
"James Hilins" <oldradio@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Fvq3h.48848$cc3.24215@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> 2001 TJ
> ~89K miles
> 4.0L manual T, AC
>
> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>
> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting problem
> but create a bunch of other problems?
> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>
> Jim
>

 

OH, mine is an O2 tj
"John" <jstio@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:FX%3h.1783$DK5.880@newsfe12.lga...
> James,
>
> I had the same problem, only at 20Kmiles. Cracked head was the last thing
> my dealer said, it was the first thing my private mechanic said.
>
> Long story short, 5 visits hot air blown up my *** and some screaming at
> the dealership and the Cracked head was replaced under warrantee. I have
> not had an issue since. When i was looking into the issue, i had a 50 50
> response. That head never cracks / that head cracks all the time.
>
> I had the same coolant problem. about a reseviour full every 1000 miles.
> No leaks, no smoke, no foamy oil
>
>
> Good luck on yours
>
> JOHN
> "James Hilins" <oldradio@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:Fvq3h.48848$cc3.24215@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>> 2001 TJ
>> ~89K miles
>> 4.0L manual T, AC
>>
>> I'm loosing coolant (very slowly)
>> dealer says its a cracked head, any one familure with this problem?
>>
>> Anyone using a aftermarket aluminum head? May solver the casting problem
>> but create a bunch of other problems?
>> Should I replace the exhaust manifold at the same time?
>>
>> Jim
>>
>
>