Jim-
I'll assume you have this unusual cutout on only 1 chamber? If so,
it would appear that a previous valve grinding job went astray, or similar
mis-adventure with unforgiving machine tools. If the surface upon which
the head gaskets' chamber-perimeter seal rests has been seriously altered,
things look bad.... If the depth of cut is fairly shallow, you might be
able to plane the head and regain a decent sealing surface. Too much planing
will raise the compression to unworkable levels, i.e. overheating,
detonation, and worse. I have run heads that have had up to about .100"
milled off, and it was a bit cantankerous...
You might be able to find someone who could repair the damage, (
Preheat the head, build up the damaged area with a machinable Ni welding
rod, re-machine flat) but this is a high stress part of the head, and
success would be not guaranteed. Better to locate a fresh head and do it
right, one time.
Good luck!
Bob Westerdale
59 3A TS36967
-----Original Message-----
From: jim watson [mailto:tallcaguy@hotmail.com]
Hi -
I own a 1965 TR-4 and have a dumb question. Just blew a head gasket so
pulled the cylinder head to replace. Noticed that there is a semi circle cut
into the head around the intake valve. Is this stock? It puts a portion of
the head gasket into the combustion chamber and reduces the the amount of
cylinder head that actually traps the gasket. I ask all this because it's
clearly where the gasket failed on my engine.
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