[Vwdiesel] Help - messed in the head...

[Shawn Wright]

I remember that post, but didn't recall who said it. It sounded like you were talking 
about a slightly pebbled or beaded surface, right? That sounds like an interesting 
theory, many gasket surfaces are like this - water pump, etc.

I'm worried that a cutting wheel arc leading right across the head is a recipe for early 
head gasket failure - even if I can't catch a nail on it, the grooves still worry me.

On 15 Apr 2005 at 10:13, Val Christian <val at swamps.roc.ny.us> wrote:

> I wrote previously about the texturing of the head surface ("ground
> finish").  Apparently, some head gasket manufacturers are now 
> recommending this type of finish.  The concern is that a glass
> smooth finish (what I have traditionally been used to), tends to
> burnish the cylinder ehad gasket.  The rougher finish bites
> into the gasket, and allows the plastic deformation of the 
> gasket, rather than the surface movement at the gasket interface.
> 
> Perhaps someone else has more knowledge on this.
> 
> Val
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > The head I 
> > saw at the other shop I visited was like a smooth mirror finish - that's what
> > I was expecting.
> > 
> > 
> >   I've seen the gamut from about 150 grit finish to nearly mirror flycut to 
> > the same drag gouges as you had except none were deep enough to 
> > be an issue.  
> >   I clear coated a couple heads and manifolds after bead blasting them 
> > but gray/grey????  Yech!
> >   The prechamber inserts are actually pretty darn soft, that's why they 
> > tend to gall and drag through the aluminum.  A 1/4" crack in an insert 
> > sounds about big enough to want to scrap it.  I may have one out of 
> > Dad's head I scrapped out.  Haven't gotten it hauled to a recycler yet.
> >      Loren
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> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> > 
> 
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Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D 
'88 Westy 2.1L, soon to be 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy