Gator_86_951

These are images of physical damage to my 951 cylinder head. We estimate that the largest gouge is about 5 or 6 thousands in depth. The piston (#1) had material missing (before new short block rebuild) and I am not sure if excessive heat caused this or if somehow something foreign got into that cylinder. This, among other things, has motivated me to run stock *everything* once the new engine is installed until I am sure everything is working well.

What should I do about this? Would a shop be able to just knock the high points of the gouges down so they don't extend past the head face? I have limited options in Florida, and I spent a pretty good amount of money on this head previously having a valve job, replacement valves, springs, etc...

I am going to call around and get shop recommendations. I found one shop in jacksonville.

TIA

Chris White

Looks like foreign object damage.
Just smooth it out a little and you will be in good shape.
It does look like the head could use a skim cot to resurface it – that will mean new O rings (not a big deal – most folks use common size mig welding wire for the Oring material.

Gator_86_951

Thanks Chris. Should have looked you up when I went to PRI.

I wanted to resurface it, but I am afraid the new resurface will be too deep for the existing o-ring. I just talked to a couple of shops and they don't seem very confident in resurfacing it without cutting too deeply into the o-ring receiver.

I think we might just flatten it out ourselves. I prefer to have somebody else do the whole thing, but I'm not sure I can send it out and get it back before the 29th, and I don't want to spend several hundred dollars on just cleaning it up.

ehall

What shop did you find in Jacksonville?