Couple of head/gasket questions

Elring or reinze head gasket?

147k miles, if skim is 5 thou or less, should I use the oversized (1mm) gasket?

Should I use lube, locktite or anti seize on the head bolts?

Thanks.

BH

ummmm

no idea

head apparently needs 15 thou skim so propose using +0.3mm (+12 thou) head gasket.

Valves in good shape but a touch sloppy in the guides so will replace the exhaust guides whilst it's out. All valves being reground and lapped.

How polished should I get the block gasket surface? Just clean or looking like a mirror?

Thanks.

BH

Why are you replacing the head?

Not replacing the head, just the head gasket. Overheated for PO and bought it from him as such.

He had been told by local "import specialist" that he needed a new VANOS but he actually needed a new head gasket!

Head is off and at the machine shop now. Being skimmed 15thou, all valves being reground and exhaust guides replaced.

Because of fairly heavy required skim, I will be using an oversized head gasket when reconstructing.

BH

I'm sure Mango or Dmax are going to chime in....

If you bought the car with the head removed i think there is the risk that the block threads for the head bolts are damaged.... (don't ask me how I know)

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...493&highlight=

Good Luck!!!

he didnt say he bought it with the head already removed. Just that the head was off and at the machine shop

No, car was purchased with engine complete and intact, (other than blown head gasket). I stripped it down last week and took the head to the shop Wednesday.

I am aware that there MAY be a block thread problem and propose using Time-serts in block, if necessary.

Any answers to my original questions?....

1) Elring K or Reinz head gasket? any thoughts (will be using oversized 1mm HG as head needs 15 thou taken off)

2) Lube/anti-seize/Thread locker on head bolts?

3) do I need to polish the block gasket face to a mirror finish or just very clean?

Thanks.

BH

1. You can do one or the other. Both are OEM suppliers. You won't go wrong with either. Just look on different sites and get the cheaper one.

2. Bentley does not say anything about using thread locker, but it does say you should lightly lubricate the head bolts.

I can't comment on #3, I have no idea.

#3 Just very clean should be fine, remove anything obvious, and get it good n clean. Mirror finish? nah.

Thanks all.

Difference in HG price for the oversized 1mm HG seems quite extreme but I have to say, for some unknown reason, I want to go with the EK?

Just one last question....looking at the head from the front of the car, in the middle of the top surface of the head is a cam chain rail (for the cam to cam front chain). The left of the two torx bolts holding this rail down, is fairly short and screws in to just the head but the right bolt passes through the head and screws in to the block. Can anyone advise the dia/pitch/length of that bolt please? Realoem is a little unclear! could it be an M6x100?


BH

Yes, it is M6x100

Part number: 11 12 1 720 731

Supplement
M6X100

Hope this helps

And when you are putting everything back together, not sure how you're planning to re-time it, but there was someone on here recently who said he had to tweak the timing a few times to address a cam fault and in the end he had to be off by a tooth from where the manual said for everything to be happy.. Seemed like the cam diagnostics are a little too touchy on this motor or the manual was incorrect..

For the reassembly and timing I used a great thread by JJRICHAR and it working great.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=899347

Originally Posted by Mau330i

For the reassembly and timing I used a great thread by JJRICHAR and it working great.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=899347

Great reference!

Thanks all for the constructive advice and confirmation. All very much appreciated.

BH