Remanufactured Head (ebay), Need you all experts advise Options

[msk59]

In the near future, I plan on redoing the valves etc on the head and came across some ebay sites that sells remanufactured heads. all work done with cams etc for under $300. Engine is 7A-FE and my car is 1996 Celica ST (AT-200) with manual transmission.

What is your experience with these heads and what advise you can give me that can help me decide.

Thank You
MSK

This post has been edited by msk59: Jun 13, 2014 - 8:09 AM

[VavAlephVav]

when I searched for 'cylinder heads' on google it comes back with several sites of places selling remanufactured heads, many were right around $275 to $300.
http://www.shop.headsonly.com/TOYOTA_c27.htm

but the product description just says they've been cleaned, tested, resurfaced and "any worn parts replaced". to me that doen't necessarily mean they've replaced
every working part, just the ones that absolutely had to be replaced. which to me is the same thing you'd get if you took a head to the machine shop yourself.
as long as you find a machine shop that you can trust and does good work they will test it and give you a good evaluation on what needs to be done.
the salvage yard I called said they guarantee it against cracks, and the core charge is only $15.
now if the Celica is not your Daily Driver you could have it down for a while and take the head you've got in and do the same thing, but you'll have to wait on the machine shop, and what if they come back and tell you
the head is cracked anyway?

This post has been edited by VavAlephVav: Jun 15, 2014 - 7:29 PM

[Special_Edy]

when I searched for 'cylinder heads' on google it comes back with several sites of places selling remanufactured heads, many were right around $275 to $300.
http://www.shop.headsonly.com/TOYOTA_c27.htm

but the product description just says they've been cleaned, tested, resurfaced and "any worn parts replaced". to me that doen't necessarily mean they've replaced
every working part, just the ones that absolutely had to be replaced. which to me is the same thing you'd get if you took a head to the machine shop yourself.
as long as you find a machine shop that you can trust and does good work they will test it and give you a good evaluation on what needs to be done.
the salvage yard I called said they guarantee it against cracks, and the core charge is only $15.
now if the Celica is not your Daily Driver you could have it down for a while and take the head you've got in and do the same thing, but you'll have to wait on the machine shop, and what if they come back and tell you
the head is cracked anyway?

At least you get a warranty at a machine shop. If the head was cracked it would be obvious since the engine is running atm. Way more of a crap shoot buying something that didnt come off of a verifiably running engine.

If it costs 300 to do the work, then what level of work are you getting if they sell you the head and all the work for under 300? You think they are giving you free/discounted service?