5SFE Head Work Options

[bmj67]

I have to do the head gasket on my 5SFE and I am going to have the valves done and the head pressure checked and surfaced if needed. My question is what is the max that can be removed from the head before I would have issues with valve to piston clearance. I like the non interference aspect of the 5SFE and would like to keep it that way. But I need to know the max limit so I know whether or not to go ahead with the milling or replace the head if needed.

Thanks

[presure2]

you should only cut it enough to make it flat, although some guys take more off to bump up compression.

[bmj67]

Yeah I know I need just enough to be flat but I don't know if it is warped and by how much. So if I have to to take lets say .030 is that going to make it an interference type engine where if the timing belt were to break I would need a whole engine.

[dgbldr]

Factory manual does not give that spec.

Once you have the head off, rotate crank to TDC and measure the height of the piston relative to deck.

Then rotate cams through a full cycle and measure the max valve height relative to deck.

That will give you the existing clearance (add thickness of compressed head gasket).

This post has been edited by dgbldr: Jan 11, 2009 - 10:57 PM