Remanufactured Heads

Asked by IMBuckhorn Dec 29, 2016 at 02:27 PM about the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban K1500 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 1996 Suburban K1500 with 250,000.  Until my son ran it out of oil, it
was an incredibly solid reliable vehicle.  Since then I've driven it across
country and back twice but it is running increasingly rough.  

I think it has a burnt valve and a blown head gasket.  Symptoms: Runs
rough especially wile accelerating but runs fine on interstate.  Compression
is 210 in all cylinders except #6-165 and #5-40.  A wet test on these two
cylinders is: 6-185 and 5-45.  Engine oil looks normal, not milky but without
any visible leaks the radiator is losing 1.5 gallons every 200 miles or so.

Three questions:
1. does my diagnosis make sense?
2. where is the most economical place to purchase decent rebuilt heads?
3. My original heads are cast iron and I see aluminum heads for sale that say
the fit my suburban.  Should I stick with the cast iron heads?

4 Answers
157,435

Bob answered 7 years ago

Burned or bent valve and bad head gasket would be my guesses. I would get a set of heads that are the same material as you have now. The only other thing to consider is this vehicle has 250,000 miles on it. Is it worth keeping? If so would a rebuilt engine make sense?

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Rowefast answered 7 years ago

Both these guys advise is sound and I agree that there is more than likely a burnt valve. I would like to point out also, putting on a set of reconditioned or new heads would only pull the oil up past the piston rings thus making the motor into an oil burner. A refurbished or different engine I believe is what you are looking at.

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157,435

Bob answered 7 years ago

Using a gallon and a half of coolant with no external leak in 200 miles points to a head gasket issue.

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Andrew answered 7 years ago

These heads are prone to cracking fyi. Your probably on the right track. Unless there is a hole in the piston (unlikely), your wet compression test verifies it's a upper end problem. I would just run a set of stock heads, make sure they are for the vortec style manifold (96+)

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