|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
09-23-2020, 01:04 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: St Clair, Michigan
Posts: 395
|
Cylinder head machining advice.
Hey all, towards the winter time I am going to pull the head off my A and probably mill it as minimal as I can just to get it flat for a new gasket. I pulled the center not loose with the clamp that holds the armored cable to it to replace the cable and the stud came out with it unfortunately. I ignorantly thought I would just put it back in and tighten it to spec but as soon as I walked away from the car for about an hour coolant was coming up through the stud threads around the nut. And then I ran the car for a few minutes and had some coolant in the oil so I drained it immediately and put fresh stuff in it.
So after all that reading if you made it this far… My question is I don’t know if my head has ever been machine before but I will measure it before I do any machining. What is the minimum thickness I can get away with on the head before I have to clearance the valves? And in your opinion what should be done to the actual top of the block surface before reinstalling the new gasket besides rigorously cleaning the surface?
__________________
Isaiah B. 1928 all metal Tudor Last edited by Smooth_One; 09-23-2020 at 01:09 PM. |
09-23-2020, 06:49 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma
Posts: 2,354
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
That stud hole may have rusted through into the water jacket, so you need a thread sealer like permatex. There’s not much you can do to the deck without a disassembly and machine shop. Usually the deck gets off around the corners in the water jacket area, but usually seals fine. .002” is the acceptable unevenness allowed. You can take almost all the combustion chamber off on the head. The problem is, has the block been decked? I’d worry about the pistons hitting the head, before the valves. You can do a test fit with a used gasket and clay or tinfoil balls to find any interference.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
09-23-2020, 10:04 PM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: St Clair, Michigan
Posts: 395
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
Quote:
__________________
Isaiah B. 1928 all metal Tudor |
|
09-24-2020, 12:46 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,436
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
Clay or aluminum foil rolled into small loose balls can be used for a clearance check. Unless a person knows the history of the head, it's a good idea check it pretty well before putting it on the head mill table.
|
09-25-2020, 07:47 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Huntington Beach, Calif
Posts: 330
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
safest way is check without head gasket and use the foil balls, if you have clearance then you can rest assured with head gasket you are good to go. As told to me by an old flathead racer. I am running a Super Winfield with no fly cut, and this proved to be a safe method with a Best 509 gasket. Got lucky on my .60 over motor.. had less than stock piston pop up.
|
09-25-2020, 07:45 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SW Idaho
Posts: 970
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Last edited by 100IH; 09-25-2020 at 07:53 PM. |
09-26-2020, 02:03 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,390
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
After going thru all the trouble of removing the head and finding a shop that can cut it I'd "spring" for a new hi-comp head if you've got some spare change. JMO
Paul in CT |
09-26-2020, 08:30 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 8,099
|
Re: Cylinder head machining advice.
A higher compression head will give the most improvement in torque and power that can be felt than any other mod that I have tried .. I really didn't feel as much improvement in shaving an original head . All of the higher compression heads have improved combustion chamber shape . A heart shaped combustion chamber is good .
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|