Is this engine just trash?

[caugmented]

I bought a '86 245 for $600 as a project(mostly because i liked the color, bad idea, i know) I surmised that the head gasket was crap, I was definitely correct, but on closer inspection a lot of the coolant passages on the head and block are rusted, and just blocked. Any ideas on how i should proceed? This is my second 240 but my first time doing any real engine work.

 

[h20ham]

Hot tank

 

[OVERDRIVE]

I just responded to you on reddit. The thing to be concerned about with corrosion and pitting of the deck surfaces is if it compromises a sealing surface. It's common to get corrosion at the forward #1 passage on the intake side. If the corrosion doesn't encroach on the fire ring or other sealing surfaces, it will be fine. Volvo started making the cooling passages smaller around 1984, and those earlier heads seal fine for a daily driver engine. Clean up the head and block, throw it back together.

I like to check head straightness from the cam bores, if you remove the lifter buckets you can set the cam in the head at TDC for every stroke and see if the cam rocks like a teeter totter across the center bearing.

Edit: To answer your question, "Is this engine just trash?", no. It looks like every redblock that popped the head gasket from corrosion, which is common.

Another edit: I didn't click on the full screen photo of the head, that water pump seal is scary. That being said .040" off the head and a decent cam will take care of that.

 

[caugmented]

I just responded to you on reddit. The thing to be concerned about with corrosion and pitting of the deck surfaces is if it compromises a sealing surface. It's common to get corrosion at the forward #1 passage on the intake side. If the corrosion doesn't encroach on the fire ring or other sealing surfaces, it will be fine. Volvo started making the cooling passages smaller around 1984, and those earlier heads seal fine for a daily driver engine. Clean up the head and block, throw it back together.

I like to check head straightness from the cam bores, if you remove the lifter buckets you can set the cam in the head at TDC for every stroke and see if the cam rocks like a teeter totter across the center bearing.

Thank you! i appreciate your time.

 

[spock345]

I've had worse cylinder heads clean up with a bit of welding. But really nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Led]

Completely salvageable.

That said if it were my car I’d be looking for a known good engine. That would be faster it you just want the car on the road.