Head gasket replacement questions Topic is solved

Post by **Twarr12000** » 02 May 2024, 15:25

I’m in the process of doing a head gasket repair on a 99 GLT and picked up the head from the machine shop today. The machinist said he had to grind .020” to get the surface flat. Is this excessive? It seems like a lot. I was expecting more like 3-5 thousands. I did see light under a straightedge before machining but didn’t measure it. Your thoughts?

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 02 May 2024, 17:33

It is indeed a lot. As far as I know the max machining is like half of that according go other engines in Vida.

My 2005 s60 head was machined 0.14mm. Of your head was so warped as to require that much I wonder what happened or like did you hear wrong?

Post by **volvolugnut** » 02 May 2024, 17:55

I think 0.020 inch may alter the combustion chamber volume a lot. Smaller combustion chamber will increase compression ratio. That may be a concern for long life of the engine.
volvolugnut

Post by **Twarr12000** » 02 May 2024, 19:05

The machinist mentioned some aftermarket manufacturers offer thicker ‘shim’ gaskets but the minimum over is 0.025”.
Judging from my straightedge guesstimate I was expecting around 0.005”, ~ 0.13mm. If I saw what I thought was a 0.020” gap under the straightedge I wouldn’t even have taken it in.

(Edited for spelling)

Post by **abscate** » 02 May 2024, 19:13

0.020 front. To back, 0.008 side to side per Volvo.

Corrected to .oo8 per VIDA

Post by **Twarr12000** » 02 May 2024, 21:13

Great! Thank you for the specification.

duke1 · Post by **duke1** » 03 May 2024, 09:35

Twarr12000 wrote: ↑02 May 2024, 15:25 I’m in the process of doing a head gasket repair on a 99 GLT and picked up the head from the machine shop today. The machinist said he had to grind .020” to get the surface flat. Is this excessive? It seems like a lot. I was expecting more like 3-5 thousands. I did see light under a straightedge before machining but didn’t measure it. Your thoughts?

hi surely not possible unless they supply a special head gasket or sleeve type thing like the horrid rover 213 /216 etc which could only be skimmed once or twice and after that rover did the double wammy of bigger head gasket and a metal sleeve that took up the slack,and stupid stretch bolts that liked to snap,horrid indeed. but i guess if the engineers are good you have to trust there word/work? good luck.

Post by **Twarr12000** » 03 May 2024, 13:25

The machinist didn’t say what kind of engine he was talking about, probably some kind of obscure oilfield engine. I didn’t inquire further because it sounded janky and not something I would want to pursue. Especially since scrapyard engines here are $250-350 (But NO warranty)

Post by **abscate** » 04 May 2024, 06:19

Corrected lateral spec above.

0.008 inch lateral

Post by **Twarr12000** » 14 May 2024, 17:35

I got the cylinder head back and installed. I just knew I was going to break a head bolt trying to get the 130 degree stretch.

: IMG_2678.jpeg (431.06 KiB) Viewed 231 times

: IMG_2721.jpeg (604.64 KiB) Viewed 231 times

Now waiting on new lifters. When I removed them I had made a mental note that they would “clean up” but on further inspection, they are pretty bad.

: Representative of one of the worst; IMG_2753.jpeg (303.53 KiB) Viewed 227 times

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on DNJ lifters vs the original INA?