Cylinder head

[Jonathan]

Right, so I've been chasing an overheating problem for some time, it's never boiled over, just temperature gauge all the way to the right and flashing red light. Anyway, changed all sorts and still same. I had a feeling the coolant system was over pressurising as I seamed to be chasing leaks, as though it keep finding the weakest point. The only logical reason for this at this point, head gasket I thought.

Sorry, the car, MK2 gt2 1990 8v carb engine.

So bite the bullet and took the head off, nothing too obvious at first, but number 4 cylinder has been running different to the other 3 (looking at the colour), so narrowed the search. The gasket hadn't blown, but it looks like it may have been passing ever so slightly on the back edge to the water channel.

Looking in this area the edge of the water channel looks to be damage not giving enough room for the gasket to seal properly. Looking at the other 3 like this there's a good 4-5mm round the boar to allow the gasket to seal, the number 4 boar at this point much only be 1.5-2mm.

So the next problem, how to overcome this?
1. Skim, new gasket, hope for the best.
2. Weld repair to build up the material to same spec as others, followed by a skim
3. New head
4. Cry a little

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Any help/ advice much appreciated

[Nate]

Your gonna need to talk to a cylinder head place (your friendly local garage should be able to recommend a good one) and see whatvthey can do for you. Or splodge a lump of chemical metal in there and hope!

[Jonathan]

Was leaning that way. So I took it to my local engine rebuild and maching specialist, they seamed fairly confident they could reweld and machine back to improve the contact area for the gasket. Quoted a reasonable rate and should have it turned round by close of play tomorrow.

So fingers crossed, I'll try post a photo of the finished artical. (All being well)

[Jonathan]

Ok so got the head back today, looks the part. Amazing turn round a great service from a little firm called stanwood engineering, if anyone in the south yorks region ever need machining etc, there guys are great and very reasonably priced.

As you can see from the photos, the water channels have been built up with weld and then the surface restored. There are some small imperfections in the surface due to pitting in the material structure but you can't feel these when you run your hand over them.

Very happy with the result.

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[Nate]

looks a good job. mind if i ask what they charged you?

[Jonathan]

£106 inc vat which I thought was pretty impressive for the work they've done. They turned it round in less than 24 hours for me as well.

[Nate]

good price :) it's £60 just for a skim and test round here

[james butler]

same round here £ 60 for test and skim at the townsend brothers opisite fitness first on pershore road birmingham.
ally welding is very expensive and hard to get right they have done a fantastic job for that price