ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: eschneider on July 13, 2008, 10:14:14 PM
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Have a '92 TBI 8V tracker. Got hot, water in the oil, pulled the head.
With 2 different straight edges, measured 0.010 warp in the center (cylinders 2-3), 0.008 between 1-2 and 3-4.
What's the spec? Anyone know how much warpage these motors can take?
I ask because the car has 200k miles, and I'm not planning on checking the main bearings other than an oil pressure test.... Just doing a $40 gasket.
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I would have it surfaced, just take 8 thou off, and if you do a valve job, you
will need a new set of rings in 20-30K miles
Good Luck
Wild
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I would have it surfaced, just take 8 thou off, and if you do a valve job, you
will need a new set of rings in 20-30K miles
Thanks. I think I will follow your advice.
Any reason to just take 8 off, and not 10 thou??
It sounds like you're saying there is a cause-and-effect with a valve job and rings? What's that all about?
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Increased compression in an engine with that many miles will wear the rings out.
This is a common problem with all engines, they don't like to be messed with after
they are broken in.
Taking more off will increase the compression, tho not much, but 2 thou warp is in specs
and will give you more service life in that head should you ever need to resurface again
Wild
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since I'm not sure about the bearings, and the motor has 200k miles on it, I decided to try using a long flat file (and some machinist's blueing paint) to very carefully dress the head surface. If nothing else it will be one of those experiments to see what I can get away with. With the file I got the surface flat to about 3-4 thou.
I'll let everyone know how this works. From a practical standpoint, I'm insane for trying -- but it's a fun experiment that I couldn't resist.
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Posting the follow up to my experiment.
To review, the motor got hot, blew a head gasket. I had just done the head gasket last summer, but my dad's been driving the car with a cracked radiator..... ugh.
Last time I did the job I replaced everything - timing belt, hoses, gaskets, even a new timing belt cover.
This time, I replaced ONLY the head gakset. I pulled the head with the intake and exhaust still bolted on. however, the head was warped about 10 thou.
I decided to try a cheapskate experiment. I used machinists bluing dye and a 18" flat file to dress the head surface. I got it to within .004" flat and left it there. I bolted it on, and everything is OK so far after about 300 miles!!!!!!! I even re-used the valve cover gasket - I just coated the gasket surface with standard grease to help it seal, and so far so good..... Compression is back up to 145+/-10 psi. Pretty good for an engine with 200k miles. What a great, durable motor.....
Total spent = $35 for the head gasket, plus consumables (cleaner, oil, filter, antifreeze.....)