Set of cylinder heads needed. Old set has cracks between the valves.

 

 

 

Part number 5 in diagram: Distributor drive gear needed. The old one is stripped.

 

 

 

Just curious, but what happens if you reuse heads with that crack?

I imagine if the crack worsens into the valves you would eventually lose compression, and all the awesomeness that comes along with it, and/or any bits of aluminum that blow through the engine from detonation making that aluminum flake off. Just speculation here, no experience

Have the heads pressure tested at a shop. Its's normal for the ea71, ea81, and ea82 motors to have the head crack in between the valves. On most of them the crack stop at a certain point and don't crack anymore so there fine to use. I had a set of ea81t heads with cracks in them and had them pressure tested. They both were fine so i had them resurfaced and a valve job.

Have the heads pressure tested at a shop. Its's normal for the ea71, ea81, and ea82 motors to have the head crack in between the valves. On most of them the crack stop at a certain point and don't crack anymore so there fine to use. I had a set of ea81t heads with cracks in them and had them pressure tested. They both were fine so i had them resurfaced and a valve job.

 

I totally agree, I have rebuilt hundreds of Bug motors and most of them had hairline cracks between the valves.

 

Your crack is a little worse(wider gap) than most I've seen, but that still doesn't mean it's leaking.

 

If it was leaking you would see burning at the crack, like you see on the valves in the pic...LOL.

 

Show them to a machine shop.

Thanks I will check at a machine shop for the heads

Any ideas on finding the distributor gear

Glad to hear I wasn't right

I have a complete ea71 engine that i rebuilt when i got my wagon. I got the wagon with a failed main bearing. i rebuilt it so i could pass inspection as original wequipment and drive until i found parts to do the DR ea81 transplant when when i got it i took it apart it had just been rebuilt but the knucklehead forgot to tighten up the sump tube and  the bearing failed. engine cylinders were de glazed, crank was polished and all new bearings replaced. it has new .075 itm pistons. engine is a solid and ready to run.  i have been saving the engine and trans in case i find an old coupe but i could use some cheddar right now. send me a pm if interested.