Would you run this head (see pic)?
 

I bought this used VVT head from a strong running motor. The seller knows A LOT about Miatas and says it's OK to run. Just wanted to get a second opinion.

Intake side of cyl#2. Everywhere else is smooth.

http://www.ferdster.com/forum_attachments/IMG_2375.JPG

This is going on an EFR build. Should I get it resurfaced? Return it? Run it as is?

Need some wisdom/guidance :).

Thanks,
--Ferdi

doesn't look like a deal breaker to me, but isn't a re-surface like 40-50 bux? why not

Did the motor fail or was it just parted out? I'd agree, resurface and see. If they don't take too much off and it's fine, sweet. but maybe skip oversized valves?

I'm trying to figure out if that's rough casting or det marks. Hard to tell from the pic, but kinda just looks like rough casting

It looks like a mix of detonation pitting and oil sludge. It's shiny/reflective right? Looks like some erosion almost creeps up into the fire ring for the head gasket. Leaves me curious as to why this motor was torn apart in the first place.

I'd imagine that rough cast marks would have rounder asperities. Maybe just give it a good cleaning with a solvent and nylon brush. resurface and call it a day. I bet it's just caked up oil

Looks pretty bad to me. I would be leery of running it as-is.

I'd pay to have it cleaned and inspected to try to verify what the "damage" is.

Personally, if I bought that head as a "good used" head of be asking for my money back...that's just my opinion though.

You should ALWAYS get the head resurfaced for MLS gasket.

My current head looks like that in some places and I'm pretty sure I caused it when running too much timing on pump gas. I'm not too concerned about since I have a spare VVT head laying around.

So even with some det damage you can run it and it will probably be fine. It is really up to you.

It's really hard to say from that photo. The head obviously needs to be resurfaced as Soviet said, but the question is whether there are any marks that would still be there after a light skimming.

If there are marks after surfacing: On my own personal car? I'd probably be OK with it. Just make sure there are no sharp edges. On a customer's car, that wouldn't be acceptable to me, though.

Thanks for the advice guys. Seller agreed to reduce price by the cost of a resurfacing.

It's definitely not from a rough casting as it's exactly within the head gasket area and this is the only area that is pitted. The pits are not deep and I hope that a resurfacing will take it all out.

--Ferdi

Take a couple more photos before and after if you can. Just for sake of curiosity.

Will do.

--Ferdi

nothing a little sandpaper cant fix...