Decking the Block?

[OpelNewb]

Ok folks I have a question and I am sure someone has experience with this task. I am pretty sure I am going to have to have the top of the block (deck) surfaced. It is pretty nasty. Lots of pitting from leaky head gasket.

The question is how much is too much. I realize that i only have so much to play with here before I get to the point that the timing chain will be alittle too long (due to the shorter distance between the cam and crank). Is this a "safe" practice with this engine or should I leave it alone and hope that it's flat enough to hold a good seal? Also is there a point of refernce to measure. So I can tell if someone has do this before thanks. Larry

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by OpelNewb Ok folks I have a question and I am sure someone has experience with this task. I am pretty sure I am going to have to have the top of the block (deck) surfaced. It is pretty nasty. Lots of pitting from leaky head gasket. The question is how much is too much. I realize that i only have so much to play with here before I get to the point that the timing chain will be alittle too long (due to the shorter distance between the cam and crank). Is this a "safe" practice with this engine or should I leave it alone and hope that it's flat enough to hold a good seal? Also is there a point of refernce to measure. So I can tell if someone has do this before thanks. Larry

Why not just start with a better block? If there's an Opeler out there that doesn't have at least 2-3 extra blocks, I want to know something

[RallyBob]

You'll run into problems when you deck so much off the block that the timing cover is higher than the block...then the head gasket won't seal!

I wouldn't worry about the timing chain until you have at least .025" milled off (which is a huge amount). And even then, the tensioner will compensate, but the cam timing will be retarded a couple of degrees.

[FPManta59]

And somewhere, I have a custom made adjustable cam sproket for getting cam timing back to where it should be. And it'll be for sale if i can just find it!

Ed

[OpelNewb]

Hum, i am weighing my options. It also appears that i have some serious cylinder wear as well. I am thinking it would have to be sleeved as well so it is getting pretty expensive to fix the problem. I may just scrap the whole thing. I am going to measure the cylinders and see if the bore is maxed out yet. The bore for 2.0 is 95mm correct? That is what I want to bore it out to. Thanks for the answers on the decking issue maybe this will all work out.