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Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:42 pm
by 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
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:55 pm
by francophile1947
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:14 pm
by 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.

Re: Block Decking
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:42 pm
by 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
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:01 pm
by 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.
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:02 pm
by 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
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:41 pm
by 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.
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:52 pm
by mikeonb4c
Simon Jones wrote: 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

Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:59 pm
by ADAMD
Thanks chaps, parts ordered from Bellhill.
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:11 pm
by 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
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:24 pm
by mikeonb4c
ADAMD wrote: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

Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:29 pm
by mikeonb4c
ADAMD wrote: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
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:41 pm
by 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
Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:46 pm
by mikeonb4c
ADAMD wrote: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

Re: Block Decking
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:25 pm
by maxheadroom
ADAMD wrote: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
