M&A heads porous problem

[dank GN]

Okay guys I just acquired a set of M&A heads that have been ported and the porting actually looks top notch. It when you look in the runners and see lil holes everywhere that’s alil bit worrying. The heads have been pressure tested and have pasted. My question is there a fix for this? Like maybe some epoxy and fill in the holes and smooth it out ? Or am I worrying to much and should let it ride . Attached is some pictures to show you guys what I’m talking about .

 

[Boost231]

Let it ride if the pressure test is fine. Here is some ta heads

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[rodruckus]

If I recall, didn't you recently break a motor? I wouldn't let it ride, unless you wanna break another. I know you're looking for M&A roller rockers and the condition of the heads is probably why. Whoever you got those heads from was basically throwing them away, and kept all the hardware for another set I'm guessing. They're gonna leak. A pressure test can't accurately reflect the stress and heat that boost creates. Don't risk a motor. Your coolant will start dropping, then you will end up wiping out your cam and/or destroy your bearings.

It's hard to tell, but that top notch porting may have made the water jackets too thin. Either that, or you have a first casting of the M&A heads; as they were known to be pourous. The later castings were and still are the best heads for a 109 block.

Now, the expoxy idea is a really bad one. Sure, it'll fix the heads temporarily. But the eventual problem is it's gonna crack, then begin to chip away. Those chips are gonna go through your valves, pistons, and the rest of the motor.

Honestly, I would try to reach out to the guru, Neil Steward, and get his opinion. Ask him what he thinks you should do.

 

[turbo nasty]

As mentioned ....The M&A heads had many issues.... early ones used the factory water jacket sizes and locations and this would show when porting and porting would breakthrough or get very thin. Also, as you see porosity was a issue.
Good thing is they can be welded sine they are aluminum and is teh best choice, but will need to be done by a good head guy post welding.
The TA heads are based on the M&A but have been improved upon greatly, valve cover rail raised, strengthened, thicker deck, etc etc DO a check on them and may not be worth the effort to repair and a set of TA SE's maybe a better choice since repairs to M&As may not be worth it for the mass flow your are looking for. You are at a cross roads

 

[dank GN]

As mentioned ....The M&A heads had many issues.... early ones used the factory water jacket sizes and locations and this would show when porting and porting would breakthrough or get very thin. Also, as you see porosity was a issue.
Good thing is they can be welded sine they are aluminum and is teh best choice, but will need to be done by a good head guy post welding.
The TA heads are based on the M&A but have been improved upon greatly, valve cover rail raised, strengthened, thicker deck, etc etc DO a check on them and may not be worth the effort to repair and a set of TA SE's maybe a better choice since repairs to M&As may not be worth it for the mass flow your are looking for. You are at a cross roads

I got these heads for super cheap complete with 1.940 , 1.600 valves and valve springs. And as far as welded goes I have actually welded my set of stage heads heads . The stage heads I had had a o ring grove cut into them that wouldn’t work for my bore size so I decided that I would take a shot at welding them and to my surprise they came out usable . Here is acouple pictures of the stage heads I welded. before

AFTER

 

[BEATAV8]

That porosity isn't a problem as long as you passed your leak check. It's just cosmetic so long as there's no leakage.

I have a set of champions here which are similar. They're GN1R's. Expensive heads with some porosity.

 

[87GN_Bart]

If they passed the pressure test and have been used in the past i don't see a problem. The porosity is more cosmetic if they don't leak, slap them on and use water first until to see there is no problem then switch to anti freeze

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Old timey cure: We used to pump heated water glass thru diesel heads, that were repaired w/ Irontite plugs. Worked like a charm. Water passages were "like glass".