Scratched Cylinder Head = Sealing Problem?

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SeattleQQ1Fish

SeattleQQ1Fish

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I'm in the process of reinstalling the Weiand Action Plus intake on my new-to-me 273. After removing the intake gasket and cleaning up some, I can see some scratches on the head and the china wall. The scratches on the head aren't quite deep enough to catch a fingernail, but it's not hard to see them. Almost looks like someone used sandpaper at some point. The ones on the china wall definitely catch a fingernail. Since I'm going to use rtv on the china wall, I'm not as concerned about that, but is it going to be a problem getting a good seal between the intake and heads? I plan on using the Fel-Pro 1243 performance gaskets.

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Also, I noticed some light pitting/discoloration on the mating surface of my intake. Could this potentially cause me some issues?

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One more question... What do you all use to remove some of the tougher stuff on the heads to get a nice smooth mating surface? Is a wire wheel safe? Thanks for your help
 
SeattleQQ1Fish said:
One more question... What do you all use to remove some of the tougher stuff on the heads to get a nice smooth mating surface? Is a wire wheel safe? Thanks for your help
Click to expand...

A fine wire wheel will clean up the scratches. You can even use Emery cloth to clean them up some. But personally if it's clean I'd put that son-of-a-gun together and not worry about those little scratches.
Do not use a metal intake gasket.
 
Post a picture of the whole intake from the top, please. But to answer your questions, I pack the intake valley and intake ports with shop rags and use an angle grinder and wire wheel. Also those scratches are nothing. Probably had that when it was assembled at the factory.
 
I use a small honing stone gives it a great flat finish.
 
Those scratches are nothing to worry about. Use rtv on coolant cross overs, front and rear rail seal. Use a razor scraper to clean, wire bristles can come off the wheel and into the crankcase...and don't forget to take all those paper shop towels out of the ports and coolant passages .
 
If a wire wheel worries you, use a brass one, softer than steel. Not sure if softer than aluminium or not.
 
Dont worry, those are nothing to a modern coated Print-o-seal intake gasket. Mirror finish heads are only used in aluminum/iron combos so they slide during different thermal expansion coefficients. The intake is mounted in such a way that it is stable. Check out an edelbrock intakes machined gasket surface, its alot crazier than what you got there. Perhaps its finished like that to control the gasket?
 
Thanks for the good advice; I'm learning a lot from these forums. Sounds like I was really overthinking the scratches. This is the first time I've installed an intake, so I'm trying hard to get it right.

The engine had the original 2 barrel on it until a couple months ago, and I can see the guy who owned it before me didn't bother to clean up very well when swapping the manifold/carb. He also didn't change over any of the kickdown linkage or use any sealant on the bolts. What a mess. Hell, he didn't even bother to wash the 50+ years of dirt off the intake bolts before reusing them. Turns out he was a Chevy guy only owned the car for a couple months. Nothing against Chevys, just venting a little bit.
 
Scotchbright kills motors
as can old style silicone if it gets loose
less is more
get the right stuff
clean the hell out of it
 
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