Block Decking

[ADAMD]

Hi,
I am soon to be fitting a new Head Gasket/Head, myself.
I have read about ensuring Block is flat.
Can anyone advise what tools are required to do this, and the process involved.

Many thanks

Adam

[francophile1947]

See here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ck#p386403

[Simon Jones]

Hi Adam, in response to your email earlier, the abrasive I used was:

English Abrasives Emery Cloth, grade 00, grit no. 280F.

I went into a proper tool / fastener shop & asked for a selection of the finest abrasive cloth they had. With regard to the granite, I got it from the scrap pile at granite & marble supplier. It is very easy to cut using an angle grinder & diamond masonry disc, but be careful as its a lot more fragile than you'd think for its size.

You want to aim for an all-over consistent satin finish rather that a mirror finish. Once you've lost the 'shadow' of the old gasket, then you're probably about done.



I used gaffer tape inside the cylinder bores to form a seal to stop the debris going down inside. A wet'n'dry hoover was used to remove the worst of the dust from the oil & water holes, but you will also need to flush the coolant system & do an oil & filter change once you've got it running again.

[ADAMD]

Simon, That is one good looking block, seems a shame to have covered it up!
Thanks for your invaluable help.

Did you use gasket sealant when fitting the new gasket?

Thanks Again

Adam

[Simon Jones]

Thanks - it does look quite blingy

Yep - used Wellseal as advised by Bellhill Garage. It is a liquid sealer in tube, so needs to be thinly brushed on to both surfaces & allowed to go off for a few minutes.

[ADAMD]

Thank Simon,Great stuff.
Can you tell me how to remove this spigot please.
It looks easily damage, can it be replaced?



Thanks
Adam

[Simon Jones]

That's the oil feed pipe. Bellhill Garage do them for a couple of quid along with the 2 locating pegs that ensure the head is perfectly aligned. The best way to remove it is to use a can of freezer spray & shrink it out (again, thanks to Tom at Bellhill for this invaluable tip). I originally tried a cheapy pair of 'mole' grips but all it did was to chew the metal up. Invest in genuine mole grips which have much sharper teeth. Use the freezer spray on the pipe for at least 30 secs until it's really white & then clamp the mole grips round it & give it a gentle twist. With a bit of luck, it will come loose quite easily as it's just a push fit. Don't be tempted to use heat on it as it will cause it to expand quicker than the surrounding metal & grip even tighter.

[mikeonb4c]

Don't be tempted to use heat on it as it will cause it to expand quicker than the surrounding metal & grip even tighter.

If SImons advice doesn't work out of the box (which with luck it will) then there's a variation on this I used with great success for a mate many years back. Get the block heated as best you can AND THEN use the freezer spray. The large mass of the block will not respond to cooling as quickly as the focus of it and you might just get an extra edge in loosening the item as it shrinks quicker than the heat expanded hole around it does. Worth a go if all else fails

[ADAMD]

Thanks chaps, parts ordered from Bellhill.

[ADAMD]

Can anyone advise on a technique for fitting the water elbow into the new head



Also the method for adjusting the valve clearances.

Thanks again

Adam

[mikeonb4c]

Can anyone advise on a technique for fitting the water elbow into the new head



Also the method for adjusting the valve clearances.

Thanks again

Adam

Where's Max? Never here when you need him

I'm sure I recall this one being covered before. I'll have a search for you (since I'm laid up post-op and bored, bored, bored) and come back if I find anything

[mikeonb4c]

Can anyone advise on a technique for fitting the water elbow into the new head



Also the method for adjusting the valve clearances.

Thanks again

Adam

Here's a promising thread (also leads to info on tappet clearances etc.):

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... +pipe+head

if I find another, I'll post it.

PS - Regarding that thread (link above) I remember thinking it was odd though how you could just tap the fitting in and get a good leak-free seal so it'd be interesting to see what Max and Simon Jones have to say

[ADAMD]

Thanks mike, That was the post I was looking for, but could'nt find.

The valve clearances are stated, but I could do with step by step instruction,
I need to keep refitting this head
as simple as possible!!

I have yet to work out which valve is which!

Thanks
Again
Adam

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks mike, That was the post I was looking for, but could'nt find.

The valve clearances are stated, but I could do with step by step instruction,
I need to keep refitting this head
as simple as possible!!

I have yet to work out which valve is which!

Thanks
Again
Adam

We really need to get Maxheadroom involved as he'll have fresh memories of all of this

[maxheadroom]

Can anyone advise on a technique for fitting the water elbow into the new head



Thanks again

Adam

Adam can't help with the valve clearance but as for the pipe I put mine in the freezer and used my trusty blunt flat bladed screwdriver to knock it home but I'm sure the freeze spray will work quicker
I will have a think about reconstruction