98 V70 GLT Opinions on Clearwater Cylinder Heads

[Ozark Lee]

Please let us know how the experience is. I am frankly very surprised that there was no more feedback on them since they are mentioned fairly often. It may be that we have members (I think Matt has over 65,000 members on this site) that are really only active when they have a problem and once the problem is solved they move on and rarely revisit the site until they have their next problem. If that is true it must mean that the site works as intended!

...Lee

[stephansvolvo]

Please let us know how the experience is. I am frankly very surprised that there was no more feedback on them since they are mentioned fairly often. It may be that we have members (I think Matt has over 65,000 members on this site) that are really only active when they have a problem and once the problem is solved they move on and rarely revisit the site until they have their next problem. If that is true it must mean that the site works as intended!

...Lee

Agreed! I learn more skimming posts. I was hoping to have a little more feedback as well..but....I will certainly let everyone know what happens. I've got to get this car back on the road. I'm leaving for Oregon in 4 weeks and I've got other work do around here besides working ol girl.

[j-dawg]

It may be that we have members (I think Matt has over 65,000 members on this site) that are really only active when they have a problem and once the problem is solved they move on and rarely revisit the site until they have their next problem.

i guess that's why i'm here every day

[Cees Klumper]

Off-topic: better member count is to purge continuously the system of people who have not visited the site for a year, people who only ever visited once, and so kn. then the 65,000 number would probably go down drastically and be more representative. I for one enjoy reading the threads on a regular basis, whether I am dealing with an issue on my cars or not, also because I always like learning new things. Back to on-topic.

[abscate]

Surprising, about 1/2 of the users have been active in the past year.

Little surprise to those of us who know the awsoMVneSs

[BigRed]

I purchased head for my '98 V70R last spring. There was damage to the exhaust cam front seal area (pics below). I contacted them by phone, and sent pictures by email. They said where the damage was is not a sealing surface, so it's OK. I took their word for it. I have been losing a large amount of oil since, and it appears to be coming from that area. That seal is the hardest of the 4 to get positioned correctly. So I have just assumed I failed to set it in right, and have been planning (and never making the time) for many months to replace it.

I also have puff of smoke at startup that seems like valve stem seals. I had that before the head job, and figured new head would have resolved. I can't conclusively say they're bad, but the symptom seems like it.

I don't know enough if that head damage is a problem, or if the smoke at startup is bad seals. I put it out there for some one who may know more. I will say they were quite responsive, and also accommodating on me not getting old head back in a timely manner.

[stephansvolvo]

Big red
Thanks for that feedback. I just received my newish head today. I'll be checking it closely.

[stephansvolvo]

I received the replacement head. Pulled it out o the box and just installed it tonight. Fit perfect. Put mine in the box it come in and shipped it back. Perfect. I've got a few more days before connecting power and cranking it up so we will see what happens then.

[sonoma850]

I received the replacement head. Pulled it out o the box and just installed it tonight. Fit perfect. Put mine in the box it come in and shipped it back. Perfect. I've got a few more days before connecting power and cranking it up so we will see what happens then.

How did it go Stephan?

I am about to pull the trigger on a head from them. Heard about them through this forum, but read some negative reviews online (incorrect valve install, loose guide, etc). I am thinking it is one of those things where people only write reviews when things go horribly wrong.

Also, I cracked the exhaust cam lip exactly like the user in a separate post, can anyone confirm whether or not I would get my core back if returning it with this crack to Clearwater? They say on the site they accept it if it is cracked, they are not specific to location of the crack.

[stephansvolvo]

I received the replacement head. Pulled it out o the box and just installed it tonight. Fit perfect. Put mine in the box it come in and shipped it back. Perfect. I've got a few more days before connecting power and cranking it up so we will see what happens then.

How did it go Stephan?

I am about to pull the trigger on a head from them. Heard about them through this forum, but read some negative reviews online (incorrect valve install, loose guide, etc). I am thinking it is one of those things where people only write reviews when things go horribly wrong.

Also, I cracked the exhaust cam lip exactly like the user in a separate post, can anyone confirm whether or not I would get my core back if returning it with this crack to Clearwater? They say on the site they accept it if it is cracked, they are not specific to location of the crack.

It fit like a glove. I drove the swede 1500 miles from CO to the OR coast. No problems. I cracked my journals too and they dont care. All they want back is what they sent you. I would inspect the head when you pull it out and if there is any damage to it call them and send it back. The parts i sent back to FCP plus what it would have cost me I saved 570ish bucks.
I'd do it.