Cat c15 Sdp rebuild help

Update: cleaning the deck real good as suggested made a huge difference with measuring..... duh.

Incase of a cracked flange, I pulled the liners and cleaned and measure the living crap out of everything. Got a precision straight edge.... and not a ruler.... and it all looked great so I used the sled guage and the deck is insanely even minus water jacket grooves. Not even out more than 1 thou end to end or at any given point.

But right in the same spot as I noticed the bad spot on my head gasket, this pic shows what the flange was sitting on. Some parts of the same hole are even and others out 1 thou but this spot is 10 thou and visible with the naked eye!

One other hole was out 5 thou in a spot too.


If you look close, you can see the fire ring has a crack in it.... that is the exact spot where the low spot is.

Glad I've found the problem, now to fix it.

 

The guy I'll have to it has been solely a engine builder for 20 year, everyone around here seems to recommend him so should be alright. I am hoping the dip isn't too wide, it hate to see a warped deck past the shim.

Gonna buy brand new head bolts and spacer plate for sure! I'm buying new liner, rings, camshaft.... etc etc.... Not half assing anything here! Sending the head bolts away for a cryogenic freezing treatment as well.

 

This wasn't prepped all the way for measuring but can show the liner marks.

 

I also forgot to mention, the top filler band ring on that liner was burned away where the low spot was. Possible point of entry for combustion into coolant.

I noticed that my head has been grooved into enough that I can feel it with my finger nails (have not measured yet)... not sure if these heads can be machined down at all or if I'm looking at a new head.