Continuing a discussion from the YTmag website with J J. Schwiebert.

Although I normally in a pulling frame of mind this does not involve pulling. We are trying to get my fathers Super 88 diesel together for a plow day in what is likely to be our last chance to do it with him. The engine was rebuilt a number of years ago and has low hours but it has been a hard starter since the rebuild. We thought the rings did not seat but with the head off we are finding four large cracks, the combustion chamber does not taper towards the exhaust valve like another cracked head we have, instead it goes down square. We suspect that the head repair shop that welded and "repaired" the head years ago took a few "shortcuts". Plow day is just over a week away and right now we do not have a good head.

A.P.