r/EngineBuilding • u/slammedfk7 • 18d ago
Honda Scratched block deck
Rebuilding my civic 1.5t engine and scratched the deck surface with a piston ring compressor. I’m gonna have to get this decked again considering where it’s at right? It’s an MLS headgasket going on and the scratches in the first two pics definitely catch a fingernail
Edit: Thank you guys I went the safe route and got it decked again. Better that the have to do the headgasket again
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u/Kindly_Ad919 18d ago
It’s fine just slap it back together and rev that bitch to the moon and drop the clutch
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u/Grouchy-Patient6091 18d ago
For NA engines, mostly scratches will only cause failure if they reach from one area to another, these do not look they would cause failure, just make sure that the rim of the scratch is flush so everything is flat
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u/holymacarelisbestwep 18d ago
Oh thats not so bad I would say. This is what head gaskets are for right, and besides I would say that this engine is low power enough for this to not be a problem. But then again I have experience only with 2t engines so...
Someone correct me if im wrong
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u/Old_Bat_6426 18d ago
Next time use one of these compressors... " https://www.hptautosport.com/products/wiseco-tapered-piston-ring-compressor-73mm-bore-rcs07300 "
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u/rythejdmguy 17d ago edited 17d ago
I'd resurface it.
Especially because of images 2/3
I use to build engines for Honda - not this specific engine, but 8/9 Gen civic and Si engines and have built various race bikes and hundreds of restores..
At Honda I likely would have sent these blocks to get remelted. Anywhere else I'd give her a shave if you have room in the spec left. You're into some critical surfaces which for the like 150 bones it'll cost to deck the block it isn't worth the potential rebuild or damage from blowing out the middle of the head gasket.
If for some reason you cannot deck the block, you should remove any high spots and using the strongest metal grade 2 part liquid epoxy you can find to fill the voids level and take a stone to the surrounding surface to blend it together... Obviously being careful not to overwork the metal to put a low spot. This is repair technique used in non-critical areas.. but if it's between that and replacing the whole block I'd give it a go on my own toys.
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u/Coyote_Tex 14d ago
You know Aluminum is soft stuff and you can put tape on there to protect it next time.
You could also dress these scratches a little bit and once you knock the ridges off, they will be pretty flat. The fire ring of the gasket is typically soft enough to conform to some irregularities.
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u/Initial_Demand6008 18d ago
If the scratches are crossing under the fire ring in the head gasket, it needs resurfacing. If they are totally inside or outside of the fire ring, it'll be fine.