Cylinder head cracked?

[crankedup]

Long story cut short, my vintage car broke down and I find evidence of oil in the coolant. Car was not firing on one of the cylinders although it was sparking the plug.
Look like head gasket or cracked head. Fearing the worst is it possible to repair a cracked cylinder head ?(iron not allu')
Being as a spare replacement is almost impossible to come across I find myself somewhat full of anxiety.
The car is booked into hospital but I would rather be sitting down to hear bad news.

[paintman]

Short answer is yes, but this will depend on just how bad it is. Finding a competent repairer might be another issue.
Try a Google 'Search' for 'cracked iron cylinder head repair'. Some interesting stuff.

[crankedup]

Thanks paintman. Still hope somebody with direct experience may post and recommend repair specialist of cracked head.

[stevieturbo]

crankedup said:

Thanks paintman. Still hope somebody with direct experience may post and recommend repair specialist of cracked head.

Obviously that's going to depend where the crack is, how bad/deep it is etc etc

[crankedup]

Yes I imagine so, couple of weeks and all will be revealed. All I can do is cross my fingers and hope a repair :
a) can be carried out
b) that it will not cost both arms and legs.

I will post up at the end of surgery.

[t400ble]

Sure the head gasket hasn't failed?

[RichB]

Where are you based?
Have you asked around the vintage Vauxhall owners club'ites?
I will ask a couple of the Aston specialists who deal with older irreplaceable iron heads.

R...

[Pumaracing]

Why would anyone speculate on how to fix something that has not yet been diagnosed?

[RichB]

Crankedup asked a question and a few of us replied to see if we can help as and when we know the problem. What's your issue?

[crankedup]

Thanks guy's for imput, I only asked about the issue to find out as much background as I could from others interested in such things. It may well be either a head gasket or cracked cylinder or even both! Just nice to be able to express one's concerns about the 'pride and joy' to see if others have gone through similar and how they got on. I now know of several specialist companies that can repair cracked cylinder heads, if somebody said from direct experience 'so and so is great'and fixed mine, that is all power to the elbow imho.

[crankedup]

RichB said:

Where are you based?
Have you asked around the vintage Vauxhall owners club'ites?
I will ask a couple of the Aston specialists who deal with older irreplaceable iron heads.

R...

Thanks Vauxhall clubbi mates have not been able to help much tbh. Although some sound general advise was emailed to me but nothing in the way of contacts. The car is in a respected local garage for proper diagnosis of problem(S)will keep posted for interest to your self and others.

I'm based in Bury St Edmunds. The car is now with Chevington Gararge a well respected local small business.

Edited by crankedup on Thursday 2nd July 14:37

[RichB]

I had a work done on the head of my DB Mk III and the old-boy that did it was the only person my specialist would trust. The heads are unobtainable so if he messed up it would have been £6k for a modern aluminium replacement. They are in Wiltshire but I guess that would not be an issue.

[crankedup]

6k for a bespoke cylinder head, but then the value of the car in monetary terms + in terms of your P@J biting the bullet is order of the day I guess. The garage guys have already suggested to me that they buy the gaskets from 'their' guy in the West Country who makes them to order. They say the quality is top rate, sounds good to me.
As you mention a poor quality restoration could be extremely costly in the longer term, something I am keen to avoid.

[Steve_D]

Jim Stokes down here in Hampshire would be my choice.
http://www.jswl.co.uk/metal-stitching.htm

They don't just repair vintage engines they actually build replicas from scratch.

Steve

[Boosted LS1]

Op, what engine is this? You need a diagnosis first.

[crankedup]

The car is in now for diagnosis and repairs, I just wanted to prep' myself and have an understanding of what the garage may be talking about when they deliver the verdict.
It's a 2.8 lt straight six overhead valve as original fitted into my 1928 Vauxhall 20/60.

Thanks for replies.

[crankedup]

Steve_D said:

Jim Stokes down here in Hampshire would be my choice.
http://www.jswl.co.uk/metal-stitching.htm

They don't just repair vintage engines they actually build replicas from scratch.

Steve

Thanks for link, I now know that whatever the problem it can be fixed.