K series VVC waterway flashings worth improving?
Discussion
Can anyone help with a possible concern of cooling routes on a K series (VVC) Cylinder head.
This is following an elastomer gasket failure on the edge which caused a leak externally, no oil water mix but steam from it pissing water onto the back of the engine, possibly due to overheating could have damaged the gasket I guess.
On some of the coolant ways they seem to be partly obstructed and there is very little symmetry on how they are.
I don't suppose this is normal and wonder if it may be beneficial for material to be removed ( in the same way they remove material for porting ), anything I can do to improve future cooling seems ideal ?
More info: I have also already invested in a PRT to mount closer to rad up front ( like a remote thermostat) and opened out the old thermostat location which is known to be problematic so there will only be PRT managing the cooling.
Its probably ideal for me to perhaps take this to a machine shop - unless its possible to simply drill/ dremel them out DIY?
Initially not looking to port or anything, just consider if the water ways are open enough - presume this is unique to this particular casting.
As its off its been cleaned off to be mounted back to the block shortly ( getting an elastomer gasket on heeded advice, that said, the head seems flat and free from wear and damange at 20k miles and even have adequate stand proud on the liners which is about 3 thou based on feeler guage of 0.08 to 0.1 mm managing to fit under a straight edge).
Potentially could use this as opportunity to examine further for port matching too once starting to remove material - though perhaps not as I'm a novice to this - but my main question for now is mainly about those cooling ways?
This is following an elastomer gasket failure on the edge which caused a leak externally, no oil water mix but steam from it pissing water onto the back of the engine, possibly due to overheating could have damaged the gasket I guess.
On some of the coolant ways they seem to be partly obstructed and there is very little symmetry on how they are.
I don't suppose this is normal and wonder if it may be beneficial for material to be removed ( in the same way they remove material for porting ), anything I can do to improve future cooling seems ideal ?
More info: I have also already invested in a PRT to mount closer to rad up front ( like a remote thermostat) and opened out the old thermostat location which is known to be problematic so there will only be PRT managing the cooling.
Its probably ideal for me to perhaps take this to a machine shop - unless its possible to simply drill/ dremel them out DIY?
Initially not looking to port or anything, just consider if the water ways are open enough - presume this is unique to this particular casting.
As its off its been cleaned off to be mounted back to the block shortly ( getting an elastomer gasket on heeded advice, that said, the head seems flat and free from wear and damange at 20k miles and even have adequate stand proud on the liners which is about 3 thou based on feeler guage of 0.08 to 0.1 mm managing to fit under a straight edge).
Potentially could use this as opportunity to examine further for port matching too once starting to remove material - though perhaps not as I'm a novice to this - but my main question for now is mainly about those cooling ways?
daytonavrs said:
Ok. The reason for my initial query was just seemed a bit odd looking and irregular, in some of them look deeper cavities than others ( which almost look like they could be blocked even?). This would have no effect ?
Depends if they are "blocked", or designed to be that way.I've never particularly heard of the K having cooling problems ( other than blowing head gaskets which mostly seems to have solutions now )
The flashing needs removing, there is information on my K series page on what to do. It’s accessible via www.dvapower.com, follow the link to the K series engine page
On the inlet side there is less of a problem, the design is more convoluted, just remove the flashing around the edges of the waterways,TBH the inlet side is less dependent on the cooling system.
Dave
On the inlet side there is less of a problem, the design is more convoluted, just remove the flashing around the edges of the waterways,TBH the inlet side is less dependent on the cooling system.
Dave
Edited by DVandrews on Sunday 31st July 09:48
I always did even road going customers K series daily 25'/45'/75's HGF's 
bad casting flash is bad casting flash and thats about as extreme as it can get 
and I thought the valley area on the later Rover V8's were bad till I first witnessed this like the RV8 sure it got worse later in production no brainer takes just minutes with a long narrow tree styled burr , nice to see DVandrews confirmation as worthwhile however 
I no longer see K series HGF's etc anymore due to their age and slow demise , last K I worked on was an Elise with seized ex mainfold bolts and a rotted out 02 bung 
nice little buzzy/revvy thing the K and always very frugal in stock trim
bad casting flash is bad casting flash and thats about as extreme as it can get and I thought the valley area on the later Rover V8's were bad till I first witnessed this like the RV8 sure it got worse later in production no brainer takes just minutes with a long narrow tree styled burr , nice to see DVandrews confirmation as worthwhile however I no longer see K series HGF's etc anymore due to their age and slow demise , last K I worked on was an Elise with seized ex mainfold bolts and a rotted out 02 bung nice little buzzy/revvy thing the K and always very frugal in stock trim Thanks for the further input.
I'm hoping I have caught it overheating and failing the gasket fairly early on,
It was not being murdered at the time of the failure and close to home so definitely hope for a fully salvageable and improved result with head fettling and cooling system changes to make for a better drivers car.
I'm hoping I have caught it overheating and failing the gasket fairly early on,
It was not being murdered at the time of the failure and close to home so definitely hope for a fully salvageable and improved result with head fettling and cooling system changes to make for a better drivers car.
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff