Dinged Heads

[smestas]

I just got my heads back from the machine shop and it looks like one of them had some previous damage. It looks like the damaged head had a failed valve or guide and suffered some dings to the top of the head. As the car was running fine before I tore it down (broken head stud different cylinder) should I be concerned with the dings? Should I try to knock 'em down a bit? I've read that any obtrusions in the cylinder can get over heated and cause damage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Damge shot 1


Damage shot 2


Beauty shot


Before bead blasting

[john walker's workshop]

those dings won't cause any problems, as they're fairly blunt, but smooth them a bit anyways. also, pull out the sparkplug(s), as they harbor glass bead. better now than when the heads are installed. and chase all the sparkplug threads.

[Wayne 962]

Your machine shop should have pulled out the plugs before blasting?

The dings don't make too much of a difference - I wouldn't worry about it, but it can't hurt to smooth them out like JW says...

-Wayne

[smestas]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Your machine shop should have pulled out the plugs before blasting?

That’s what I was thinking! There is still a considerable amount of grime around the outer part of the plugs. I assumed that they would remove them before blasting but unfortunately they did not. They also didn't plug the valve stems like I requested per your info in the Rebuild Book but I think thell be alright.

John and Wayne thanks for the replies! I'm going to sleep much better tonight knowing that I don’t have to buy a new head.

What do you guys recomend to use for knocking the high spots down a bit? Im thinking a dremel tool.

[Wayne 962]

So you just had the heads blasted and nothing else? When blasting heads, they should 100% be disassembled (no valves, etc.)...

-Wayne