ka24de cylinder head questions

[fuco8210]

I did a headgasket job a few months back, had the head cleaned and resurfaced. I got about 3000 miles out of it and it started overheating and spitting coolant into the overflow.. bubbles in the radiator and it just overflows out the top so i bring myself to accept the fact that i have to rip the head and do it all over again.

Would i be able to resurface the head again? It overheated a handful of times so im sure its warped. but can it not be done again because it will screw the cam alignment? Can and do machinists usually check for that?

any info is appreciated

[Slipstream]

Are you getting coolant into your oil? Did you bleed the air out of the coolant system after refilling?

[fuco8210]

no coolant in oil but combustion pressure and exhuast gas in cooling system, the HG is blown. Anyone else? someone has to have a clue about re-resurfacing

[480sx]

Just because you'v overheated your engine doesnt always mean that you'v warped your heads. However you never know until you take it to the machinist really.

I guess your asking if its possible to resurface your head after having it already resurfaced once? Its all about how much metal the machinist took off the first time, and how much he has to take off now. Your FSM has all that info, but you SHOULD be ok. The heads have a decent amount of extra metal in there for resurfacing.

Your other concern is cam alignment?? I dont really understand what you mean by this. Are you worried that by taking metal off the bottom of the heads your lower timing chain would be looser or something? Otherwise, theres nothing that a resurface job does to your cams.

[nismo_ser2005]

Ok I am also having a similar situation here also but I haven't had any remanning or anything cause I just bought a new cooling system (radiator,w. pump, thermostat, hoses, belts, and its still overheating so I asked my friend and he said it could be my had gasket but I thinking about buying a new cylinder head and gasket set and all that just to see what will happen later. But if everything is all good I will repost this and let you all know.

[fuco8210]

Just because you'v overheated your engine doesnt always mean that you'v warped your heads. However you never know until you take it to the machinist really.

I guess your asking if its possible to resurface your head after having it already resurfaced once? Its all about how much metal the machinist took off the first time, and how much he has to take off now. Your FSM has all that info, but you SHOULD be ok. The heads have a decent amount of extra metal in there for resurfacing.

Your other concern is cam alignment?? I dont really understand what you mean by this. Are you worried that by taking metal off the bottom of the heads your lower timing chain would be looser or something? Otherwise, theres nothing that a resurface job does to your cams.

I know that but i also know ka's dont take kindly to being overheated.. My concern with the alignment was that if to much was shaved there would be extra slack in the chain and it might not line up perfectly. or it would raise the comp ratio too high..

[spoolings14]

well how do you kno for sure you are getting combustion pressure/exhaust gasses into your cooling system, did u do a 5 gas over your coolant? it could jus be that you havnt properly bled the cooling system from air.

[fuco8210]

well how do you kno for sure you are getting combustion pressure/exhaust gasses into your cooling system, did u do a 5 gas over your coolant? it could jus be that you havnt properly bled the cooling system from air.

this is not my first time working on a 240 and im 100% positive the hg is blown and not jst air pockets in the system... with the rad cap off and motor running it overflows and does not stop overflowing.. combustion pressure leaking into the coolant system... bubbles in the rad when you let it cool and pull the cap, fills the overflow, rough start .. blown headgasket. i could take time to test for exhuast gas in the coolant but i already know its there.. I was just wondering if anyone has ever re-resurfaced they're head before and got away with it

[480sx]

Again, you have nothing to worry about as long as you have equal to or more metal than the FSM says is safe. You dont have to worry about your comp pressure going up. It might raise a TINY bit, but its negligible.

Your idea about cam alignment is way off. The chain tensioners work off of oil pressure and keep your chain tight.

No engine likes to be overheated, especially ones made of alum. The ka has an iron block and a alum head, making the head more prone to warping. However, people can overheat the crap out of engines over and over and sometimes they still wont be warped. Kinda luck of the draw.

[fuco8210]

Again, you have nothing to worry about as long as you have equal to or more metal than the FSM says is safe. You dont have to worry about your comp pressure going up. It might raise a TINY bit, but its negligible.

Your idea about cam alignment is way off. The chain tensioners work off of oil pressure and keep your chain tight.

No engine likes to be overheated, especially ones made of alum. The ka has an iron block and a alum head, making the head more prone to warping. However, people can overheat the crap out of engines over and over and sometimes they still wont be warped. Kinda luck of the draw.

thank you for actually answering my question i appreciate it... what i meant was the links in the chain not lining up correctly with the gears
Modified by fuco8210 at 2:17 PM 2/5/2008