Head skimming.

[TeddyThom]

Just a question. I'm having to look at doing my head gasket. As its almost dead. Now when I spoke to my friend he highly recommended getting the head skimmed. Now I know this practise hasn't been around for usual use when replacing a head gasket, especially when the nova was built, is it worth me actually getting the head skimmed when I do the head gasket? Or just get a decent quality gasket and take my time and carefully replace it etc

Thoughts please?

[Andy]

Get a proper straight edge and feeler gauges and measure if theres any distortion.
The haynes will tell you the tolerances.

[BRoadGhost]

it'll effect the CR, raising it and lowering the cc at the same time. Imo if the head's straight spend the time / money on some DIY porting / inlet gasket matching, which can be achieved cheaply using a mandrel & mini flap wheels on a power drill. Then you could save up a bit & put some proper ARP head studs on it so it'll next to never fail again.

[paul080803]

IMO if the headgasket hasn't failed and the car overheated then I would not have it skimmed.

However ensure you remove the headbolts in the correct order so as not to distort it that way then check it is within tolerance and rebuild using a quality gasket.

[Andy]

put some proper ARP head studs on it so it'll next to never fail again.
Good god,why didnt the Rover K series engines take heed of this amazing advice?!!!:roll:

[mowgli]

1. only skim it if it's surface is pitted
2. clean up the surfaces with wire wool & some turps(or petrol)
3. buy new bolts..
4. if you don't have an angle gauge make one by downloading a pic of a 360deg protractor off google, print it out and cut a 16mm round hole in the middle. then make up a pointer out of card with a 1/2" square hole to go on the torque wrench. halfrauds charge £20 for one.. my version costs about a penny, or 5p of you laminate it..
5. take your time and follow haynes.. whilst you are at it, strip & clean the hyd lifters.

[mowgli]

Good god,why didnt the Rover K series engines take heed of this amazing advice?!!!:roll:

a bloke i used to work with at unipart in oxford told me the rover dealers mechanics used to love baiting apprentices by getting them to do rocker cover gaskets on k series!!!!!!