Bear with me on this one... I'm no stranger to appearance stuff but haven't really gotten into engines yet.

I was looking through my local salvage yard and I came across a 98 EX that was hit from the front. (6th gens are a rarity in Arkansas salvage yards. I don't know why.) The valve cover was beat up and has chunks missing, but the head looks intact. It has been open to the elements for a couple of weeks or so and it has rained.

My question is whether or not it would be okay to pick this up for a future build project. If I plan to go through it, clean it all up, port and polish, etc. would the fact that it's probably had some water in it be an issue? Or should I look elsewhere?

 

i don't think water being in it would be a problem as long as it didn't rust. you're gonna have to clean it out really really good.

i would only buy it if they're willing to sell it cheap since it's been exposed to water.
you can find heads on ebay and craigslist that haven't been exposed to water for pretty cheap so i would only buy it if it costs less than the ones you'll find on ebay and craigslist.

 

got any pics of the head?

 

Nope. It's still at the salvage yard and today is Sunday. And it's raining again. -_-

 

honda motors have aluminum heads, so, doesn't rust, but the valvetrain is prone to rust.

 

yea that's what i meant, like the springs and stuff rusting

 

well if you go ahead and rebuild the head with new stuff than it should be fine. have a headshop check it out