Level F recovery from Seagate 7200.7 - head swap?

[sknopp]

Here are the specs:

Seagate 7200.7
Model: ST380013AS
SN: 5MR4BYM7
Firmware 8.12

Drive is clicking and not recognized. Terminal in SD gives Head Mask FFFF and Error Reading Reserve Track Defect List. In reading through previous posts this is probably a bad head stack, correct? The client (of course) doesn't want to spend the money to do a complete head stack swap, but I was wondering (again based on previous posts on the subject) if cleaning the heads with IPA would be a reasonable next step? Reading some of SD's literature there was a coating that Seagate put on some drives that flakes off and causes head problems. If I remove the cover, will this flaking be visible (in your experience)?

I know, alot of questions....thanks for any advice.

[Zero Alpha]

If its visible you have no chance of recovery. Cleaning the heads may be an option if that is the problem...