Resurfacing 226 Head
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 831
Likes: 7
From: Milford, Michigan
Resurfacing 226 Head
I'm getting a water leak from the head gasket area on one of my 226 engines and have determined that the head is not as flat as it needs to be. Does anyone know how many thousands of material can be removed from a previously untouched head before I run into issues such as valves hitting the head surface? I can't find a spec anywhere to give to my machinist to let him know the maximum that he can cut from it to true it up.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
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From: Moyie, BC Canada
What I would do first, before talking to a machinist is install a new head gasket and then re torque the head to specifications and see if it still leaks. If the leak persists then consider getting the head shaved. I have heard of 60 thousands of an inch shaved off these heads but you probably won't have to go that high since yours is still factory.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,519
Likes: 403
From: W. Central FL.
A little searching should reveal the procedure used to gain clearance for valves and pistons when a head has been surfaced. Modeling clay is placed in the head where the valves and the piston extend into the combustion chamber. The head is placed loosely on the block and the engine is turned over by hand. The imprint in the clay shows how much clearance you have to work with. The head is then relieved in areas where the contact would be. Checks are made until there is clearance in any area of potential contact. Finally, the head is torqued to specs and clearance checked. This is a slow procedure but is a must. Go here for a better explaination.
http://www.racingheadservice.com/rhs...learance-guide
http://www.racingheadservice.com/rhs...learance-guide
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,303
Likes: 1,062
From: NM
Did you try re-torquing? On the V8's up to 50 - 60 thou can be milled if piston and valve clearances are checked, but that's for raising compression. I'd say the machinist can safely go 30 and he'll probably gasp when you tell him that.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 831
Likes: 7
From: Milford, Michigan
I did check the head with a straight edge and it was obvious that the head especially on the edges (where the water jackets have a narrow sealing surface) was warped. The block surface on the other hand was very good. This engine had just been rebuilt and the leakage occurred on initial fill up. After removing the properly torqued head, it was seen that the head gasket sealant (copper gasket seal) had transferred nicely to the complete head surface with the exception of the outer water jacket area which had no transfer and leaked badly. Checked surfaces with the straight edge and warpage at that area was found. Being that my machinist is no flathead expert, I am not sure he will know how far he can cut it before I get in trouble. Thus my question . . .
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 353
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Should be OK to .060" I just had a 226 head milled (needed almost all of the .060 to get it flat!). Haven't checks clearance but looking down the plug hole it's easily 3/16" from the bottom of the spark plug hole so don't think it will be an issue
Should also bump the compression on the 226 which is abhorrently low anyhow
BTW I guess setting up the head is a PITA, took my shop a while and I paid for the time, because it was a bit more than a normal
Should also bump the compression on the 226 which is abhorrently low anyhow
BTW I guess setting up the head is a PITA, took my shop a while and I paid for the time, because it was a bit more than a normal
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 831
Likes: 7
From: Milford, Michigan
A little searching should reveal the procedure used to gain clearance for valves and pistons when a head has been surfaced. Modeling clay is placed in the head where the valves and the piston extend into the combustion chamber. The head is placed loosely on the block and the engine is turned over by hand. The imprint in the clay shows how much clearance you have to work with. The head is then relieved in areas where the contact would be. Checks are made until there is clearance in any area of potential contact. Finally, the head is torqued to specs and clearance checked. This is a slow procedure but is a must. Go here for a better explaination.
Piston to Valve Clearance Guide
Piston to Valve Clearance Guide
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 831
Likes: 7
From: Milford, Michigan
Should be OK to .060" I just had a 226 head milled (needed almost all of the .060 to get it flat!). Haven't checks clearance but looking down the plug hole it's easily 3/16" from the bottom of the spark plug hole so don't think it will be an issue
Should also bump the compression on the 226 which is abhorrently low anyhow
BTW I guess setting up the head is a PITA, took my shop a while and I paid for the time, because it was a bit more than a normal
Should also bump the compression on the 226 which is abhorrently low anyhow
BTW I guess setting up the head is a PITA, took my shop a while and I paid for the time, because it was a bit more than a normal
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