Honda head work

[snydercj7]

So I don't think I want to spend the money for labor, trying to get my ducks in a row before tearing the motor apart. Any one have any recommendations on a shop to get a head resurfaced?

[aw12345]

A lot of aluminum heads get put through a process that straightens the head instead of machining a lot of metal off it
Most machine shops can take care of both, did you overhead the car?

[Jeeperator]

What kind of honda head is it? I have 3 different d16 heads here sitting here in my garage sell them for probably less than what it cost for machining. TNT machines in laverne does great work for a reasonable price hopefully they are still in business. Graves autoparts in pomona also has a descent machine shop and probably has more experience with foreign heads.

[snydercj7]

The car's temp gauge did not hit the red. But it did climb rapidly before I slowed down which it then dropped back to normal. I was traveling 70mph and it just all of a sudden climbed. When I slowed down to 55mph it dropped back to normal. So I figured since I had the head off for a new gasket, I may as well have the head touched.

Think it is a b15 or d15. It is in a 91 Civic DX hatch back 1.5 liter. Had one quote of $85 here up the hill.

[Dukes69]

I'd also have the machine shop pressure check or at least vacuum check the head. Pressure will check for cracks, vacuum will make sure the valves are sealing.

[Jeeperator]

It doesnt sound like you got your engine too hot why are you changing the gasket? did it blow? if so how do you know this? You most likely have a d15 head. b15 or b16 are dual overhead cams. I just remembered mines a Vtec head which I dont think you have if its a dx. Its worth about 20 more hp if it installed correctly but I am sure its not what your looking for. $85 seem reasonable to me to resurface. A cheap way to check the valves is close them and use water to see if they leak. I also have used this stuff called dye check to look for cracks.

[snydercj7]

The coolant actually blows out the over flow tank and is not hot. I did a flush thinking the radiator might be plugged. While flushing the flush with distilled water trying to get it cleaned out, the car was idling for a while and I happen to walk to the rear of the car. The tail pipe was blowing water out of it. Also the exhaust is actually gurggling with the water in the exhaust. I can not take the car up to 70 mph as of recently with out the temp gauge spiking, I have changed radiator cap/ thermostat/ hoses/ water pump/ and the added water coming out the tail pipe seemed to be a head gasket was my last piece to replace. Just want to make sure the head is good since I am going this far. I will have to see if they check for cracks.

[Jeeperator]

Obviously if it has water or steam coming out of the exaust it need a new head gasket or the head might be cracked. You can check the head yourself for warpage with a straight edge also. I believe there is specs of how much your allowed to be off from perfect flat.

[chris142]

Those Honda's will blow a headgasket if you look at them wrong. Thats part of the reason why they use a 170* thermostat instead of a 195* like every other car made. Most cars can handle 230 or 240F but those Honda's blow a gasket @ 220F.