When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
While putting a head gasket on a new-to-me 97 f150 4.6l I discovered a significant amount of pitting where it was blown previously. It looks as though its not going to seal properly, and was wondering what options I had. It is fairly deep, and the entire section between the jacket, and the cylinder is fairly rough verses the rest of the block that's smooth as glass. Thanks in advance.
Also that is not shavings in the cylinder.. just some paper towels that shed a bit whenever I used them to cover up the cylinders while cleaning. 😁
Mine was much worse, plus my old truck had an metal intake that was just as bad. I used a metal filler on both and went another 150,000 miles on the engine. I good metal filler will work, you have to pay special attention to prep. Meaning, you have to scratch out the pitted area...with a pick or awl if you have to. Of course, hitting it with a little spot blaster would be best, I didn't go that route. Wheeled what I could with a dremal and picked/scratched out the rest. I believe I used a sandable Permatex metal filler. Went over it with a palm sander (variable rpm if you have it) , then acetoned matting surfaces. The gaskets need to go down fingerprint free and clean and intake must go down evenly in (staged torqued), not exceeding yield at final stage. Do all that and you stand a very good chance at a long term fix. Like I said, yours isn't that bad.
Btw, I'm referring to jackets on the intake side to be specific, same deal. What kind of shape are those in ?
That's not that bad.I once used JB Weld to fill in pitting much worse than yours without any problems. A very thin application and smoothed it out with fine wet sandpaper.
Doesnt look bad in photo to me either.
If you cant see light under a precision straightedge, it should seal up with a touch of metal filler.
As said, generations have used jb weld. I cannot vouch for longevity. I once had a friend that did it and it lasted at least a couple years till he sold car.
That's not that bad.I once used JB Weld to fill in pitting much worse than yours without any problems. A very thin application and smoothed it out with fine wet sandpaper.
I've used JB in the past as a filler as well. That works really well too. It wasn't for this, but had success as a metal filler resistant to heat and chemicals.
03-31-2019, 12:23 AM
Block pitting
