04-09-2015, 09:37 AM
(04-09-2015, 08:58 AM)Niall Wrote: I agree that if its in need of a skim, you would be silly not to but I just don't like the idea that some people skim them when it may not be needed.
Chances are if the head gasket has gone and had been overheated, it will need doing but for the sake of saving money you could just measure it. My engine was stripped and rebuilt. It wasn't overheated and the head was spot on so it wasn't done.
I personally don't see the point IF you can avoid it. I'm not saying bang it back on without a skim regardless of if is warped or not. Just why waste money time and material when it may not be needed!
I would always "skim" the head, as said, it doesn't HAVE to be a large amount, "skimming" doesn't mean taking millimetres off the head, you've got to clean the surface anyway - if you're "polishing" or "cleaning" it you're still removing material, just in terms of making sure you've got the absolute best sealing surface you can get (especially on these engines which have a reputation for sealing problems), a machine designed for the job will produce a far better surface than you can do by hand.. You can have a few thousandths taken off and it'll then have a perfect seal, and in reality, you've got another 30 skims left in the head as long as it wasn't warped. Long as you take your time with the block, with some scotchbrite and a blade, it'll seal perfectly, unlike if you do it by hand, you'll end up with higher and lower spots and gouges which you simply cannot avoid when trying to do the job by hand with a blade and scotchbrite.
WRT taking bolts out one at a time, it's not ideal, but to be fair, it'll be absolutely fine, I've done it, I know countless people who've done it, all of which have been fine. OP said that apparently it was like this before the ARPs went in - putting ARPs in once it's blown past the gasket won't solve anything unfortunately.
