98mm Carrera cylinders - sealing surface recondition?

[Jonny042]

Hello all,

Continuing the saga of my 3.2SS MFI build, I the machining of my heads finished yesterday and my attention has now turned to the top surface of the cylinders.

There appears to be some slight pitting in a few areas of some. Not as bad as on the heads, but still perceptible.

The engine, as disassembled, leaked from just about every place it could, and had dilivar studs in the exhaust side. The heads were not completely flat (potato chip shape of about .0012-.0015") although they cleaned up completely with a .003" cut. 1 or two seemed to be a bit taller than the rest but only by .001" or so. Not anymore.

Given the great pains I went to to assure the heads are all exactly the same height, I figured I'd just chuck the cylinders in the lathe, take a few 'thou off the top at the same slight taper and live happliy ever after, knowing all cylinders were also the same height.

I have read on here about how the plating may wrap around the tops of the cylinders and will chip if I try to machine them?

If that's the case and the nikasil does in fact wrap around the top then I know I can rely on that portion to seal against my fresh head surface and I'm best to leave well enough alone. Any pitting that is presenting itself is a good 2 or 3mm inboard from the cylinder bore.

Thoughts? My intention was to have two nice sealing surfaces freshly machined but I don't want to wreck my cylinders. Plus I'd like to put all this together some day!!!

Just because I can, a pic of the "fresh" heads.

[Jonny042]

Dammit - meant to post in the engine rebuilding forum!