CJ-5 Head Redo

[drew2468]

So I pulled the head from my 76 CJ5 . The intake valves have a mostly even black coating of carbon. The exhaust valves are ashen white except for Cyl# 4. It is almost like the intake valves. I also spotted what looks like white pimpples around the spark plug port extending to the exhaust valve on Cyl #5. A friend said that could be an indication of a cracked water jacket. Any advice whould be appreciated

 

[Cheepjeep85]

Id look for a 4.0 head, while you have it off it would be a good time for a upgrade, you can get you a later model intake, and wrangler header for more power and fuel economy.

Drooooid...2

 

[drew2468]

Looked for a 4.0 head as suggested but none locally in my price range so I took the old one to the machine shop. They did a great (looking) job and now I'm in the process of reinstalling.
While snugging up the rocker arm bridges I heard a snap. Yep, the suckers are made of aluminum and one cracked before my very eyes. Local surplus yard had them on a later model engine but these are steel not aluminum. Any considerations on the change over?