98 V70 GLT Opinions on Clearwater Cylinder Heads

[skloon]

I got one a few years back for a redblock no problems or drama and they shipped to Canada

[xHeart]

I had the same concerns when preparing to deal with Clearwater a few years ago. Ultimately I opted not to after speaking with the proprietor over the phone. He just rubbed me the wrong way. Many on this site, however, have used Clearwater in the past and appear to be quite satisfied with the service.

Anxiety on both sides can get in the way - wrong buttons.
Our Ozark Lee may know more.
I will call Clearwater, park away my anxiety first - be respectful.

[Ozark Lee]

I've never used them but over the last several years there have been many threads where Clearwater was at least mentioned and I can't recall anyone saying anything bad.

I have a couple of local machine shops that are decent and they don't totally kill my wallet so I use them as necessary. The only heads I have had off of a whiteblock were quite repairable so I just used the local guys. Even with the local guys the pricing is quite variable and it seems to be related to how busy they are at any given time.


...Lee

[stephansvolvo]

I went with Clearwater. Was also able to send 600$ worth of parts back. More than the cost of the remand head.

Stephan

[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.