Engine block measurements

[paulbell6]

Hi all, I know in the past that a lot of discussion has taken place regarding the dimensions of a cylinder head after it has been skimmed and therefore it's suitability to be fitted with standard or thick gaskets, but has the size of the engine block been clarified? When I removed the heads from my block the only way that worked was to cut through the head gaskets with a hack saw! The result being that both the head and block faces were scored and subsequently required remedial work.
I am now in a position where I can rebuild the engine, I have all the necessary data and advice regarding the suitability of the heads, but I remain unsure about the block.
Does anyone have any dimensional data regarding the block?
I have already purchased some extra thick head gaskets but wonder if some head saver shims might be required.
Might there be a dimension between the centre of the crank shaft and the centre of the cam shafts.
Any help from you knowledgable people would be very welcome.

Many thanks

Paul

[flying farmer]

I would ask the machine shop how much they took off the heads and block. Depending on how much was taken off you may just get away with the thicker gaskets.
Original mk2 pistons already come about 10 thou out of the block at TDC, county pistons usually only a couple of thou .
If more than 20 thou has been taken off the block you could have trouble
If the machine shop don't know you will just have to do a dummy build of the block and measure everything
Neil

[Westfaling]

My block faces were skimmed and the pistons (County - flat top) come 6 thou proud of the block face. I've gone with thick head gaskets with no problems. (CR 9.3:1)
Nick

[jbuckl]

Dear Paul,

The heads must be lifted before cutting.
There are various methods to help do this, posted here in the past.
The saw marks mean the damage has been done sorry.
The cost of the repairs would cover buying another (used) engine.

Last year I was asked to look into this situation for a member who had a 'mate' cut his stags cylinder heads off.

The cheapest option was to start with another (£750) engine....only needed gaskets. (you could find a stag engine cheaper than £750 I suspect...maybe £400?....The £750 engine had been rebuilt 2 decades before and never run much since)

If you are able to get machining done for free and possibly head welding too, it might be feasible to carry on.

Regards
Julian

[paulbell6]

Thanks for the comments. I think a trial assembly with some blutack on a piston top will be the way to check the situation, depending on the outcome it may require some head saver shims as well as thick gaskets. The block and heads were skimmed about 15 years ago and I am sure I was told how much had been taken off but as ever I have forgotten. I do remember being told that the heads were not warped, just scratched from the saw blade, and looking back through the cars history there is no mention of heads being skimmed or replacement gaskets being fitted. The engine has only done 56k so hopefully the heads have now only been skimmed once. I think the only other thing will be to ensure that the timing is correct and I know that this has been dealt with recently on here.
Thanks again.
Paul

[dasadrew]

If the scores on the block are "only" in the vicinity of the studs, or an open space rather than a water, oil, or cylinder sealing surface, do they matter?

[paulbell6]

Maybe not but that horse has bolted as I have already had the block faces machined! Doh!