peter wrote: I learn something new every day, thanks everyone! So I shouldn't worry that those divots are going to create hot-spots that could cause premature ignition or anything like that? I could just run with the head as-is, or shave/smooth it if I like? I wouldn't. And the dings in the lip of the combustion chamber won't cause sealing problems with the block? Nope. And FYI, those lines in the first photo are definitely hairs, not cracks. Good. After years of work, I've gotten comfortable with suspensions, brakes, and the stuff that hangs off the engine. I'm still a complete noob when it comes to engine internals. This is how you learn.
I watched a guy resurface a 6 cyl. BMW head on a hugass horizontal belt sander. So much for that Swiss watch theory.....
Not to beat a dead horse, but to finish out the education here:
when would a head be considered unusable? Divots are apparently OK, but I'm guessing cracks are death? warping is obviously bad... What sort of divot size/depth would have an effect on usability?
Thanks to all, your input is much appreciated...
Most of that stuff can be fixed. If it's a rare, or expensive head, it's sometimes worthwhile. Bad bearing journals is usually a killer.
^ That was what killed my G13B head. No oil to the top end, cooked cam journals. And by cooked I mean aluminum stuck to the cams and chunks missing out of the head cooked.
Call me wierd.. but my first response to the title of this thread:
"The head may be alright, but your face never had a chance!"
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