Jeep Cylinder Heads For Sale

Jeep cylinder head prices in South Africa range from R2,500 for a used PowerTech 3.7L V6 head to R25,000 for a new 6.4L HEMI SRT head. The most commonly requested Pentastar 3.6L V6 head sells for R3,500 to R7,000 used, R5,000 to R8,000 reconditioned, or R8,000 to R15,000 new aftermarket. The 2.8L CRD diesel head is one of the most affordable at R3,000 to R8,000. V8 heads (per side) generally cost more than V6 heads.

The early Pentastar 3.6L V6 engines (2011–2013) had a manufacturing defect affecting the left (bank 1) cylinder head. Micro-cracks develop between the valve seats, allowing coolant to leak into the combustion chamber. Symptoms include white smoke from the exhaust, coolant loss without visible leaks, misfires on bank 1, and a sweet smell from the exhaust. Chrysler revised the casting in late 2012 and offered extended warranty coverage in the US. Post-2013 heads rarely have this issue.

Minor cracks can sometimes be repaired by a specialist machine shop using pinning, welding, or metal stitching. However, for the Pentastar 3.6L cracking issue, replacement is usually recommended because the cracks tend to worsen over time. Reconditioning (resurfacing, new valve seats, new valve guides, pressure testing) is a cost-effective middle ground between used and new, typically R5,000 to R8,000 per head with a 6-month warranty.

On V6 and V8 engines (Pentastar, HEMI, PowerTech, CRD V6), each bank has its own cylinder head. If only one head is damaged, you can replace just that side. However, if the engine has high mileage, many mechanics recommend doing both heads to avoid a repeat job when the other side fails. On inline-4 engines (2.8L CRD, 2.4L Tigershark), there is only one head to replace.

A used cylinder head from a donor vehicle typically comes as a bare head — the casting with valves, springs, and cam followers installed but without camshafts, rocker arms, or intake/exhaust manifolds. Some suppliers offer complete heads with cams fitted. Always confirm what is included before purchasing. You will need new head gaskets, head bolts (stretch bolts are single-use), and coolant for installation.

Common signs of cylinder head failure include: white smoke from the exhaust (coolant burning), overheating with no visible leaks, milky oil (coolant mixing with oil), persistent misfires despite new spark plugs and coils, bubbling in the coolant reservoir, and a sweet smell from the exhaust. A compression test and coolant pressure test can confirm the diagnosis. Head gasket failure and cracked heads share similar symptoms.

For new aftermarket and reconditioned Pentastar, HEMI, or CRD V6 heads we can arrange a 50% deposit with the balance due on delivery — useful when your workshop is already quoting you for head gaskets, bolts, and timing components. Registered workshops with a trading history can apply for 30-day credit. We accept EFT, credit card, and SnapScan, and all pricing is in South African Rand.

Cylinder heads are heavy castings — they ship in foam-protected crates to prevent deck-face damage. On delivery, inspect the head for casting cracks, warping, and bent valves, and note anything on the waybill before signing. If the head fails a pressure test at the workshop or leaks on fitment, contact us within the warranty period with the machine shop report. We will replace or refund subject to the head being torqued to spec with new head bolts and a new gasket set.