im in the middle of my heads cam project and im getting new cam bearings put in... well anways the guy im having put the cam bearings in said that since i used a scotch bright pad and die grinder to clean up the heads and deck surface( what auto shop teacher told me to use) that i would have to have the block decked and the heads milled. Is this true will i have to have the block decked and the heads milled ... if so, will i have to take the bottom end of the engine apart... if i do i might as well do a complete rebuild, but is lots of money. Also will i need different pushrods if i get the block deck?
my setup is home ported heads, 230/236 cam with .544"/.555" lift with 1.6 rollor rockers, comp rs, headers and other this and thats.

thanks for your help

james

 

The guy at the machine shop is probably right. The block and head surfaces must be checked for flatness and smoothness (surface finish). If you used a die grinder on them, they are most likely no longer flat or smooth. This will lead to insoluble gasket sealing problems. The motor should be dismantled for decking the block and it will likely need to be honed afterwards. The added cost (besides the decking operation) is the motor disassembly and reassembly. If there is much mileage on the motor, it only makes sense to freshen it up with new rings and bearings. Even if you aren't a very skilled mechanic you can save some $$$ by disassembling the motor your self. That's a pretty easy job which they let even me do at the shop! If the shop is run informally, you can always ask about them letting you clean the parts prior to assembly. I always find it therapeutic to get the parts "surgically clean" (which they should be) and that would also save a few hours labor. Best to let someone skilled reassemble it.

You probably will not need new pushrods, unless a lot needs to be taken off the deck. It should be measured after the machine work with a checking pushrod. The shop should have one.

In terms of cost, depending what you can do yourself, you are looking at probably $700-900 including parts. Your shop teacher is a retard.

Rich

 

Well I gotta tell ya, I was a dealer auto tech for 12 years. Did god knows how many head cam swaps on 5.0 Mustangs in my carport. Have used MANY a scotchbright pad on a 90* head die grinder on head, block, intake, and water pumps, transmission pans, rear end covers....have never has one problem with sealing afterward, never. If the surface is in question take them to your shop teacher and have him straight edge them..he will know how. Unless you burned a divet in one of the surfaces you will be ok.


David

 

Lol lots of money ... maybe i can get into my college fund somehow... not much money going to highschool and working at subway. Ya if i dismantal it i might as well freshen it up as some cheap insurance. Its not problem to disassemble and reassemble bottom ends ive done that before ... how much should i save by doing the assembly my self??

thanks a bunch
james

 

o ya and by the way the guy that is doing my cam bearings is a diesel mechanic, so he works on engines with twice the compression and would have a harder time getting them to seal...maybe... i just dont want to spend any more money.

thanks
james

 

I Agree! B4 you blindly conclude your hand grinder work as detrimental, have someone, not suffering from a 'conflict of interest', inspect and assess the 'damage'.

 

Sounds like your mechanic needs to pay his christmas bills

I would take it to a third party. I highly doubt you would even come close to damaging the block. The aluminum heads may be a different story.

-Shannon