Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: mark.adams on 08 March 2009, 18:37:22

Title: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: mark.adams on 08 March 2009, 18:37:22
What is left of the gasket, and no we didn't do this getting it off.
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1422.jpg)
Look at the blocked water channels in the gasket, thats good old radweld for you...
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1423.jpg)
Its the corrosion around the water channels that are concerning me in the photo below
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1424.jpg)
Can i get this head repaired, is there a repair compound that will fill in the corroded bits or do i have to get another head????
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: Martin_1962 on 08 March 2009, 18:43:41
Can't see much damage as the picture is a little dull but a think it could do with a light skim
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 08 March 2009, 18:46:31
Get it skimmed by a few thou.......Most of that will go.

Should be fine.

What you can do, as a little bit of extra, is to wipe a smear of teh green goo used on the front cam bearings bits around the corroded bits to act as an extra 'filler'
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: markey mark on 08 March 2009, 18:48:24
not bad that light skim will look loads better seen worse gaskets as well  :y
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: mark.adams on 08 March 2009, 19:09:11
Close Up Shots...
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1434.jpg)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1435.jpg)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1436.jpg)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1437.jpg)
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/markadams1963/DSC_1438.jpg)
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: star_whites on 08 March 2009, 19:20:15
Your not going to get a true idea of the condition of the head until you get all the remaining gasket off the surface and clean it down. Best way of removing it is with a small window scraper. Stanley do a good small yellow one that uses a flat blade. Just be carefull not to dig into the head. Asda smell them for 1.50. Then give it a wipe down with a bit of carb cleaner on a cloth. You will then be able to see the true condition
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: mark.adams on 08 March 2009, 19:23:47
That gasket in the first photo was fitted by an aftermarket repair facility that do warranties less than 2 years ago...
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: star_whites on 08 March 2009, 19:34:02
Part of one of my old jobs was fleet manager and Ive seen far worse than that on a ali head. Take it to your nearest head specialist and ask there opinion, they wont turn you away if they think its repairable. Would be worth having the valves reground at the same time.
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: tunnie on 08 March 2009, 20:04:40
post these up as a warning to all 4 pot owners, make sure you flush coolant every 2 years, and never leave water in it.
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: philhoward on 08 March 2009, 21:35:44
...or use radweld!

Bets bet is to take it to a decent engine reconditioners - they'll soon tell you if it will live or not.  You'd be amazed at what a quick skim will do though.

I've used Wellseal many a time on marginal heads and not had a leak yet.
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: mark.adams on 09 March 2009, 10:18:18
I'm okay for the admins to use these photos as a warning to people not to use radweld unless absolutely necessary and to use the recommended anti freeze.
Any recommendations to find someone local to cambridgeshire that does head skimming?
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: smartrs on 09 March 2009, 12:39:44
depends where you are mate ? you got cambridge re bores in burwell there very good and i know a bloke that works there also there is ivor serles in soham whih have many many years of experance under there belts both companys are very good
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: mantagte on 09 March 2009, 15:05:32
you could always get it welded then reskimmed if the skim does not remove all the corrosion unit next door does quite a few head jobs like that
or as a bodge use hermatite red gasket sealer in the corroded bit just before putting it back together
not that i would condone this
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: mark.adams on 09 March 2009, 15:51:47
so would that mean welding to fill the gaps then skimming to level it???
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 March 2009, 15:53:43
Quote
so would that mean welding to fill the gaps then skimming to level it???


Yes but, you dont need to on this one.

None of the piting encroaches on the fire ring area (that I can see) or near any of the oil feed or returns or the edge of the head.
Title: Re: Cylinder Head is Off
Post by: Tawfield on 09 March 2009, 16:04:06
That damage was caused by crap cheap antifreeze, skim the surface and regrind the valves should see a few thousand more miles okay.