[lespaul]

I usually hang out on the main forum, but thought I would come over here with a specific rebuild question.

78 SC 3.0L. I am in the middle of a top end rebuild due to exhaust side head stud breakage on an engine with 35K miles on it. The heads have minimal erosion damage from PO driving with broken head studs. My machine shop says he will make a minimal fly cut on the heads to clean this up. We are guessing this will be in the 0.1 to 0.15 mm range. I asked whether I should shim up with thicker gaskets and he said there was no need.

I am putting on the standard 0.25 mm gaskets. So, if I would shim up, are there 0.35 or 0.40 mm gaskets available? Or do I stack a 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm on top of the 0.25?

Plus's with no thicker gaskets = some slight compression gains.

Negative seems to be some reduced clearance from piston to head and/or valves but at that small fly cut, is that a real risk?

I suppose that there may be some negative impact on the alignment of the cams with the chain housing opening but is that a real concern?

I would appreciate any observations/advice from those more experienced here.

Thanks