Engine Block Surface

[Chilla]

Hi y'all
The Victor Reinz head gasket info sheet is telling me the max surface irregularity is 0.005 mm length ways and 0.003mm across the block. I have very slightly more than this around 2&3 inlet side. Probably 0.008 mm length ways. Will be using 3 notch gasket. Soooo, should I take the block out for grinding? History is - new recon fitted by previous owner, think it may have been a genuine recon as had ford head. I bought with known coolant issue( over pressuring steam in exhaust) took head off cracked across 2 inlet&ex. Fitted new head &gasket kit from TPuk. Started, ran sweet up to working temp then gasket lost it's seal. Bought victor reinz gasket kit after reading a few posts on here. To grind or not to grind? That be the question. Cheers guys

[metalworker0]

well it depends on where you are measuring those values from, and how you have the block sat to do the measurements, here's a guide. note he's measuring a block that isn't bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvaxQYiT3fA

what happens in real life is the strait edge would rock (see-saw) somewhere on the block, leading you to push it down into the rock and then proceed to measure the gap opposite, which can mislead you into thinking there is a huge discrepancy ./.. in such circumstances you have to average it out .. measuring the gap by maybe placing two feeler blade in it one at each end of the rock.

Having said all that, these MLS (multi-layered-steel) gaskets require a good "surface finish" on the block to work correctly, so if you have a machine shop near you and it isn't a cost issue, i would have it done.

A good "ENGINE" machine shop would then wash the block in a machine and clean the galleries out, as machining will put swarf everywhere, don't expect it to be clean, as some shops do not do any cleaning and hand it back to you with swarf everywhere

Grind . some grind, some mill... most precision shops mill. with a dedicated machine

see "Jim's automotive shop inc " on you tube .. no grinding of blocks or heads takes place there .

https://www.youtube.com/@JAMSIONLINE

Notice in Jim's shop his dedicated machine would have the block supported on its crank journals and he would be using a dial indicator to set it up so that everything average ages out .. he would take cuts so everything "cleans up" ... meaning cutter has swept every part of the head before he calls it good. if that amount turns out excessive then its thicker gasket or re-cut valve seats to sink them lower in or shave tops of pistons .

all the best.mark

[Chilla]

Thanks Mark

I did actually find that vid yesterday and followed that procedure when taking some more measurements. Was also able to borrow a precision straight edge. Thankfully all measurements were in spec so I don't now have to take the engine out crank apart etc for grinding. Yay. Bonus!