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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.....)