Liebe Herr Doktor Tim,

        Der beruehmte Doktor Tim said:

        If it can be welded, NW ConRod can do it. Welding of aluminum heads is
one
of their specialties.

        However:

The head on a diesel is cast iron, not aluminum, as he suggests. If you
ever actually pick one of these babies up, you'll definitely notice it.

Cracks between valve seats on these heads are common, but not necesarily
harmful.  There is a spec on allowable width for this problem somewhere,
but I'm not able to quote it right now--perhaps someone has this figure
available to quote.

Chuck Hill