Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,
I have a pair of cylinder heads for a CU engine, so they're aluminium.

They each have a small knick on the rocker cover mating surface thats leaking oil, it's where they were stored and handled improperly, long story!

I've tried using sealant to no effect.

I'm assuming I need them skimmed? There's plenty of material and clearance with the moving parts.

If so, what sort of place would I be looking for (like what do I put into a search engine), and how much roughly would I expect to be paying?

I'm based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire if you happen to know anywhere local.

I am pretty sure the heads cannot be skimmed.

If you skim the rocker cover sealing face then the bail arms may not have enough spring in them to hold the rockers covers tight to the head, I think I’d be tempted to use a bit of chemical metal in the groove and block sand it. I think welding and locally machining the weld could also work and be a better solution but I think you’d struggle to find anyone that could be arsed to do it

Well a***. Couldn't I put something under the bailing wire to keep it tight?

I'm looking for any solution that doesn't involve buying new heads, then... Chemical metal, huh?

R0B wrote: ↑08 Jun 2022, 16:09 I am pretty sure the heads cannot be skimmed.

Why not?

I'm no expert, but I have read on here a few times they cannot. I'm sure one of our engine builders on here will be along soon.

I’m Pretty sure what R0B is on about is skimming the combustion side of the heads , which shouldn’t be done , however you are on about skimming the rocker cover side , which maybe shouldn’t be skimmed, but as long as its only a thou or two wouldnt cause any issue as far as i can see , although filling the indentation with chemical metal then smoothing down level on a glass face might be doable

jospanner wrote: ↑08 Jun 2022, 16:34 Well a***. Couldn't I put something under the bailing wire to keep it tight?

I'm looking for any solution that doesn't involve buying new heads, then... Chemical metal, huh?

Chemical metal will do the trick