Don't use sandpaper or scotch brite on the gasket surfaces, doing so can cause low spots that will lead to gasket failure.

 

Well....

Just got back from the machine shop. The guy said these heads were shot. Pointed out the cracks and a few other things. so looks like a engine swap. Here is a pic of the cracks.

 

sorry to hear man but summit and Hughes have heads for a good price.

I have swapper out a lot of engines with junk yard crap, Put it this way you are better off getting a set of junk yard heads because there off the engine you can see what your getting.

If it was me I would drop the oil pan and pulling the pistons. This way you can see if it is the rings or the cylinder walls that are bad.

It would be nice to see some pic of the engine with the heads off

 

cylinder walls are bad. noticable grooves in 6 and 8. didn't even bother checking the other bank..............

 

Will take a pic, more of a "lip" at the top then grooves.

 

dam bad luck will there is always a stroke kit.

 

Say what? The safe assumption is that a truck in the junkyard most likely has the stock heads on it, which are known to crack. Why waste a lot of time and effort pulling heads from a junkyard engine?

It would be better that he get a brand new set of aftermarket cast iron heads.