47 2n cylinder head

[Bourget]

We recently took off the head because we found out we had a bad head gasket. I cleaned up the head and I was checking it with a strait edge and a feeler gauge. It turned out to be about .004 at most. I was wondering what is that worst it should be before doing anything with it?

 

[R Geiger]

(quoted from post at 11:11:48 08/31/11) We recently took off the head because we found out we had a bad head gasket. I cleaned up the head and I was checking it with a strait edge and a feeler gauge. It turned out to be about .004 at most. I was wondering what is that worst it should be before doing anything with it?

Seeing as how you had a failed head gasket I would have it machined and don't forget to retorqe after running and while warm.

 

[souNdguy]

that's pretty darn small...

i'd think a good handfull of head studs and a fibre gasket would make that work.

soundguy

 

[Ultradog MN]

Good to see a fellow with enough understanding to check that.
Consider though that your flat head is really just a soft, malleable chunk of cast iron.
And it gets snugged down by what? 14 or so studs?
Four Thou is ok I would say.
Install a new gasket. Run it for an hour or two then retorque. Run it for a year and retorque again.
Doubtful you have further problems.

 

[Bourget]

I was also wondering if the head bolt heater someone installed on it could have had anything to do with this? Maybe someone didnt tighten it enough? I took a metal gasket off so should I put a metal one back on? Thanks for all the help so far. I am just starting college to be an auto technician but still dont know alot of stuff.

 

[Bourget]

We looked into having it machined and checked, it would cost me about $80, is it better just to buy new?

 

[BillM (OH)]

Local shop did mine - which was way out of flat in the same area of failure - for $39. I used fibre gasket after spending 3-4 hours with the die grinder getting piston clearance - I would think that 4 thou out would be OK as Soundguy sez.

 

[ASEguy]

Typically generic specs for out of flat are .001 per cyl .002 for a six inch section or .004 overall. Hope this helps. Gerard

 

[souNdguy]

1, at .004 out.. i'd bolt it on with a spray painted gasket and go.

2, if it cost 80$ to fix.. I'd just get another one for that money...

 

[Dr. Bert]

With my rebuilds I used the fiber head gaskets, soaked them for about 15 to 20 minutes in warm water, hung them up to drip for about 5 minutes, wiped off excess water, sprayed them with the copper spray and bolted them down. No problems with any of them to date. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the .004.

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

I once had a V-8 that had was off .03 and kelp blowing the gasket. I had bought a 25# box of scrap sand paper belts. Just ends ands pieces that were from some place that made them. I got a 2X6 board and ran it though a jointer. Then screw a 2x4 handle on it and stapled some sand paper to it. I packed the cylinders with paper towels. Then a layer of Visoline over that. Then I sanded and sanded till I got it strait. That was without pulling the engine. I put it back together and didn't have any more problem. If you can find some of that belt sand paper I'm sure you could rig up something to fix it your self.

 

[DollarBill]

I took a metal gasket off so should I put a metal one back on?

Most folks lean toward the composite head gasket - They seem to be more tolerant of surface variations. If it were me, I'd spend the coin and get a good Fel-Pro brand head gasket, P/N HS7277B.