Resurfacing Cylinder Head or Not To

[joshuak]

Took a pair of heads to a machine shop. One was cracked and the other one needs to be resurfaced according to the machinist. Have ordered a NOS to replace the cracked one and I'm undecided as to replace or have the other one resurfaced.

I would like to know if fellow members have had good luck with getting heads resurfaced or better to replace? If you so, did you use the thicker gasket sold by Felpro?

Both the military manual and the GM training manual say to replace if uneven over certain tolerances, attaching screenshots of both for reference.



My site Google Fu found only this thread on the topic:

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?56160-6-2-minimum-head-thickness

 

[Another Ahab]

Just noticed your location signature, joshuak:

- That's funny!

Are you on the Bay-side?

 

[frank8003]

Where is that guy that always pops up and says "We stock these" with a link
Last I saw it would be better to just buy two new ones.
It is in another recent thread someplace.

Oh, Here they are... "We stock these".

country
4 Star General
Steel Soldiers Vendor

 

[cucvrus]

I resurfaced a lot of cylinder heads in my life. If the cylinder head comes off it goes to the machine shop. I have encountered many cracked heads on every type I ever worked on. My last top end on a 6.2 the heads were perfect and just needed resurfaced. I have taken 3-4 sets of 6.2 heads to he shop to get 1 good set. Luck of the draw. The goverment would just toss them oldd heads and put new ones on. They have deep posckets from lots of supporters. I would buy a new one if that is the way you want to go. But a head is a head. Resurfaced , valves redone and uncracked same as a new one. Really I would never know if they are new or reconditioned. I have a pair of 6.2 GM heads in wooden crates. I wouldn't sell them for the price of new heads. I would buy the 1 new head after I couldn't find a good used head in my collection. But even new ones I would have checked for surface trueness. I think it cost $35. each. Good Luck.

 

[joshuak]

I resurfaced a lot of cylinder heads in my life. If the cylinder head comes off it goes to the machine shop. I have encountered many cracked heads on every type I ever worked on. My last top end on a 6.2 the heads were perfect and just needed resurfaced. I have taken 3-4 sets of 6.2 heads to he shop to get 1 good set. Luck of the draw. The goverment would just toss them oldd heads and put new ones on. They have deep posckets from lots of supporters. I would buy a new one if that is the way you want to go. But a head is a head. Resurfaced , valves redone and uncracked same as a new one. Really I would never know if they are new or reconditioned. I have a pair of 6.2 GM heads in wooden crates. I wouldn't sell them for the price of new heads. I would buy the 1 new head after I couldn't find a good used head in my collection. But even new ones I would have checked for surface trueness. I think it cost $35. each. Good Luck.

Thanks for your response. In those cases, have used the thicker head gasket or not bothered with it?

Where is that guy that always pops up and says "We stock these" with a link
Last I saw it would be better to just buy two new ones.
It is in another recent thread someplace.

Oh, Here they are... "We stock these".

country
4 Star General
Steel Soldiers Vendor

That's funny. I was thinking about that possibility yesterday after posting, and I'm glad he didn't because this is not a want to buy add.

I will say that I did purchase the NOS head from that store and I commended the salesman for him asking to call me back when someone physically walked in. Too many times I've had to wait while the clerk behind the counter deals with phone business... but yeah, I know what you mean.

Just noticed your location signature, joshuak:

- That's funny!

Are you on the Bay-side?

About right in the middle Another Ahab, have to wave next time you fly by on the 404.

 

[cucvrus]

In those cases, have used the thicker head gasket or not bothered with it?

To be honest I was unaware of thicker head gaskets. I just used the new Felpro head gaskets (unaware of thickness) and new head bolts everytime. I am not sure why you would want thicker head gaskets. Never gave it much thought. Good Luck. Do it right the first time and move on.
​

 

[royalflush55]

I would install heads in matched pairs only. Either purchase another NOS head or find another used head to go with your good one. If you resurface your old one and install the NOS one you are running slightly uneven compression ratio one each side. Even the way the valves set in the seats may be quite a bit different on the two. This will affect compression ratio too. Yes it will run this way but it will run a lot longer and smoother with matched heads.

 

[joshuak]

To be honest I was unaware of thicker head gaskets. I just used the new Felpro head gaskets (unaware of thickness) and new head bolts everytime. I am not sure why you would want thicker head gaskets. Never gave it much thought. Good Luck. Do it right the first time and move on.

That's the idea and why I posted up, trying to save on the tuition pile. New bolts in hand. Thanks for the good wishes and to you as well.

I would install heads in matched pairs only. Either purchase another NOS head or find another used head to go with your good one. If you resurface your old one and install the NOS one you are running slightly uneven compression ratio one each side. Even the way the valves set in the seats may be quite a bit different on the two. This will affect compression ratio too. Yes it will run this way but it will run a lot longer and smoother with matched heads.

Makes sense, thank you.

 

[Jericho]

factory production spec on heads isn't all that accurate anyway, the casting is trued and machined, but the general tolerance is in the 3 to 5 thousands range to begin with add the block tolerance 3 to 5 thou and you could be 20 thou from side to side any way from the factory, machine shop only grinds enough to get it true many times I only took off 10 to 20 thou 50 cut was only as a request , so IMHO it really makes no difference
your likely couldn't measure it and would definitely not feel it in performance , Cut the head, A good seasoned head is sought after by most knowledgeable engine builders

 

[cwc]

The machine shop should be able to "CC" the heads and determine the chamber sizes. The new head could be cut to match the used one.

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