10 replies to this topic

[Rexdidacool]

Well, the head gasket broke about 6mm between cylinders 3 and 4, I've got the cylinder head off, got my feeler gauges but I can't find anything about any tolerances in gap-age. If anyone understands? Haha.

[Dan]

No, what are you trying to measure?

[Rexdidacool]

Sorry, can't explain myself very well... Measuring the distortion, if the head or block has warped.

[Craig89]

The chances of them being warped is quite slim as they are both cast. Alloy blocks/heads are more susceptible to warping. The best way to check is with a square against the manifold faces on the head and the flat ends of the block. If the head / block head gasket faces are square with those faces mentioned above then it's should be ok. Just give them a good clean, fit a new gasket and reassemble. Hope thy makes sence

[jaydee]

As above these heads wont warp 99% of the times, usually a good clean is enough.

A light skim is reccomendable if the surface looks 'worn' and will help for a better seal.

Lap the valves in while you're at.

The use of a quality head gasket instead of the cheapo cooper faced thats what actually makes a difference.

Edited by jaydee, 20 January 2014 - 07:19 PM.

[myredmini]

You also cannot really measure head/block warping with feeler gauges. Best bet it a machine shop or even a steel rule and a light can work. But as above, rarely warp.

[Rexdidacool]

You also cannot really measure head/block warping with feeler gauges. Best bet it a machine shop or even a steel rule and a light can work. But as above, rarely warp.

 

Ahh, fair play. Got the rule too but I was going with what my mate who works at Volkswagen said haha.

 

Thank you guys, appreciate the advice. The cylinder head will go back on this weekend then.

[mini danny]

The way I check my head when it is removed if I use a nice flat block of wood and wrap some sand paper (but not to course) around the block. I then go up and down the head from this you can see where its "scratched" the head. from this you can see if there's any warping as there will be low/ high spots and is also a good way to make sure the face of the head is clean but as said before a mini head is very rare for warping.
 
 
Dan

[Cooperman]

That is exactly what I do as well. Works fine. It is very, very rare for a cast A-Series head to warp and it would have to be seriously overheated to do so. By seriously, I mean the engine would have seized with the heat.

[Rexdidacool]

That is exactly what I do as well. Works fine. It is very, very rare for a cast A-Series head to warp and it would have to be seriously overheated to do so. By seriously, I mean the engine would have seized with the heat.

 

That would be impressive haha. I changed my radiator a few months ago, as well as hoses, clips, etc... Can't think of what would have caused the break though as the engine wasn't running that warm. I went over a bump? Haha.

[Ethel]

They don't warp but they can erode, if they've been blowing steam through a failed gasket for long enough. Stick a good flat edge over where the gasket failed & look for light coming through the gap, or rather a lack of both.