Cat c15 Sdp rebuild help

Truck was pushing coolant so I just pulled my head off today and have a few questions..

I believe I found a bad spot on one of the fire rings, it looks a little wider on the one side and honestly looks to me like it crushed a little more than the rest... took off spacer plate and going to clean everything up then check the liner heights to see if anything is off.

I have the cat sled dial, I have the cat bolt, washers and nylon washers to check it properly.

Engine was rebuilt, complete out of frame a year ago and only worked a few months before having issues.... deck and counter bores were not cut as the mechanic said they were within spec. I know he was in the middle of nowhere and didn't have the tools to cut them and suspect he may be full of it.

Now what I'm wondering about, my spacer plate is covered in surface rust on the deck side.... all over it. Is this normal? The brown o ring that goes in the spacer plate was found in my water pump a few months back, we assumed it was a spare but I only see a o ring on the top side of the spacer plate but not the bottom.... I will double check on the deck tomorrow morning though as I brought the plate home to clean up.

Pistons and liners are mint and the head looks brand new with no cracks, going to pressure test the head for internals.

How do you guys clean the spacer plate up and the deck? Wire brush, grinding disc, sand paper etc... spacer plate was new during rebuild so I'm hoping I can reuse it but I wanna mic it and make sure it's true/even.

Thanks alot gents, appreciate any input or ideas you may have.

 

What is a acceptable variance in the spacer plate? .001 difference acceptable?

Nevermind about this question, spacer plate is .336 to .337 with big low spots, getting a new one.

 

Used a sled guage to check out the deck to see if it was warped or not and to see how bad the water jackets spots were slotted out. The water jackets grooves are .003 on some.

To me, this deck looks warped bad but I'm no pro, this is my first engine I've opened up myself so I thought I'd ask you guys here. I did not prep the deck, just cleaned it off real quick of any crap....

 

I can very visibly see gaps with a straight edge, looks like the engine's coming out to go to the machine shop.....

 

Engine has maybe 4 months of use since complete rebuild so I am hoping flanges are good although I suspect I may have one cracked..

Wonder if you good dummy down the reason why you say I should get the thinner spacer plate? Will cutting the deck make it so I have to use th thinner one, or would I need shims after cutting the deck and the smaller spacer plate will make it so I don't have to shim?

(Head new during last rebuild 4 months ago and looks mint)