AFR Eliminator heads recall-QA sucks!!!!

drive it · 12-18-2006, 04:22 PM

After finishing install super ram and all now I find out AFR a mos ago recalled their damn heads- I was never notified by them or the dealer. Soft valves with a ten percent fail rate. They will cover the gaskets and shipping back and forth- but compared to my labor big deal!!!!!
Plus all the access. bolt holes are too shallow!
Yes as a matter of fact I'm pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zix · 12-18-2006, 04:27 PM

AFR did a post on this that I remember seeing in the C5 and C4 sections not oo long ago. It turns out it's not their fault, but their suppliers, there was a bad heat-treament on some of the valves that caused the problem, no way for AFR to know about it. I agree that it sucks, but at least you're hearing about it like this rather than having engine damage...

cuisinartvette · 12-18-2006, 04:31 PM

They did not recall all their heads, they stated there MAY be a problem with a small percentage of the LS valves. Run the motor.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=Tony+Mamo

drive it · 12-18-2006, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuisinartvette

They did not recall all their heads, they stated there MAY be a problem with a small percentage of the LS valves. Run the motor.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=Tony+Mamo

I just talked to AFR this am-it's a recall and their info is even more vague now!!!!!!!!!!

Cris · 12-18-2006, 05:19 PM

Don't panic drive it.

AFR is doing the right thing, not sure how you missed all the e-mail traffic but look at:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1549706

And, yes they will reimburse you for labor if the heads fail while they are on the motor. Try to find another head manufacturer who steps up to the plate like this.

drive it · 12-18-2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cris

Don't panic drive it.

AFR is doing the right thing, not sure how you missed all the e-mail traffic but look at:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1549706

And, yes they will reimburse you for labor if the heads fail while they are on the motor. Try to find another head manufacturer who steps up to the plate like this.

OK, fair enuff. BUT, they won't cover it if installed after Nov. 21???? How bout the poor fools that didn't dig this info up till now??? And the folk picking up the phone there are not saying anything about reimburse for labor......Also, I have to go ahead and run it, and just wait and see if it fails....I don't know if I can rely on this thing to take a trip!!!! Then I may have a big tow bill home. And how many miles till I can say it's safe????? I tried to get some specific info from AFR today- like hell, I'd be willing to pull the valve covers and inspect every 1000 mi. till whenever they say it's safe, but they won't say what that mileage would be! And per that post you quote, if I pull the heads now that it's assembled....with my bloody knuckles.....and it hasn't failed because I havn't fired it up yet, then they won't cover a damn thing!!!!
Yea, sure, after metal is goin thru your engine they'll cover it! And my car is meant to be a reliable daily driver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, sorry but this still sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drive it · 12-18-2006, 08:40 PM

Also I tried to get specific info on my chance of winning the lotto with this crapshoot. Like how many heads from what dealers have had how many valvles per head test bad and have to be replaced. What time frame/assembled heads have had failures. How many heads have tested all valves good. etc.....Seems nothing has been kept track of.......more frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cris · 12-18-2006, 08:58 PM

Yep, the situation sucks, but AFR is trying to do right and keep their heads above water through this disaster.

I wonder if they can non-destructively test a valve. If you pulled a valve from your heads, could they identify if it was bad without destroying it? If so, it might be a work around for your situation.

If have a set of the AFR comp eliminator heads still on order. They are months late. The only good news is that if they would have delivered these earlier, I might have the bad valves also.

Short term solution? Have two fingers of a good bourbon. Heck, I'll even have one for you.

drive it · 12-18-2006, 09:11 PM

Nice thought bout testing- but the heads have to be pulled-both. The problem is if 10 percent fail, 16 valves=10 percent of those could be soft. I posted on AFRs post and e-mailed Tony-my big question at this point that I feel must be answered is how many miles before I can safely drive this thing and not worry about breaking down?????? I'm afraid that whoever the guy was that I talked to there today was so vague and lacking info that my frustration level went thru the roof!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cris · 12-18-2006, 09:41 PM

I'm guessing it's a lot problem. If one valve is bad, so are the other 15.

cuisinartvette · 12-19-2006, 02:36 PM

To know how many miles until there is a failure IF there is would be impossible. Too many variables, spring pressure, adjustment, etc etc. Im going to be brave and guess if they look good after 1000 miles you are pretty much set.

drive it · 12-19-2006, 09:11 PM

As of now I would either have to run it-and wait and see; go ahead and pull them out; or plan C run lash caps. So I'm going with lash caps and then I'll have to get longer pushrods too.
This way I won't keep agonizing over if/when it's going to fail ( I never win at anything so why would I be a lucky one now!!!) and I wont have to damn near pull the engine to replace the heads.
I'll have peace of mind this way, but no I'm still not real happy.......

bill mcdonald · 12-20-2006, 03:12 PM

the people who answer the phone over ar AFR need to be trained, or re-trained.

I can feel your pain drive it.

My AFR heads frustrate the hell out of me.

I had to mod all set of valve covers to fit.
open oil holes because I have a mysterious oil loss problem, like every other guy out here with a set. didnt fix it.

I called and asked if the coolant passages are suppose to look like they were never finsihed?
They threw some attitude at me.
every stock casted head I have seen has better cooling passages then these heads.

I asked if I could grind them open to match the gasket, or if I would destroy them by going threw some wall.
he said do what I want.

Now some years later, I have these heads and a piston blew on me. they are all pitted and need to be welded/ re-machined. Do I have them fixed, or is this the time to swap to another make that flows more?

gofastvette · 12-22-2006, 03:36 AM

And then there is always Dart!

Or maybe only should have been Dart in the first place.

nastee383 · 12-27-2006, 11:15 AM

Buy CANFIELD heads!

No Go · 12-27-2006, 01:46 PM

I think people should buy OEM GM heads...then you would get the R and D you expect...with no problems you expect...oh then you wouldn't get any performance improvement either...

I'm completely happy with my AFR's and will have another set on order in a year for another project...