I'm finally going to install the Toda A cams/toda gears I have laying around, in my ITR over Christmas break. I was thinking while I have the head off, I should mill it 12 thousand's to give me 11.1.1 compression right? After talking with several knowledgeable friends they discribed head milling as a "hacky" or "cheap" way to gain compression. They went on to say, it would be better to spend the extra $$ and just put in JDM ITR pistons.

Are there ANY downsides to doing this? Will it throw the factory balance off or anything? Or will I have any clearance issues down the road if I want to swap out my A's for Jun III's? I was also thinking of a mugen head gasket. Should land me in 11:4:1 range or so. Perfectly safe. What kind of price should I expect to pay for the milling. Could someone step up and help me out here? Thanks ...

 

head milling is irreversible unlike a headgasket (won't give you much there) or pistons....

I certainly wouldn't mill my head, I know a lot of people who have done it in the past with great results and also a few who have had a bad taste left in their mouth.

All I can say is, I would spend the extra bux to get "real" compression via pistons.....

 

Thanks for the heads up. Like you said it sounds like maybe I should shell out the extra 200$ for pistons. I know a lot of people on here have done it and love the results, but others dont care for it. I don't really want to **** with my stock balance of the motor if I don't have to. We shall see I guess.....

 

try using a thinner head gasket, the spoon one layer raises your compression .4 points. so you will have 11:1 with no milling. either way, your timing will be off a hair. if you want head work, try welding teh combustion chambers with a slight mill. or get pistons. but if you get pistons, there are a lot of might as wells that will come into the picture. liek might as well shot peen your rods and go oversized pistons. think about what you really want to get out this. if you want high compression, then get pistons. if you want just a slight raise in compression, get a thinner head gasket. dont ruin your head by milling it.

 

What's the difference between head milling and headwork?

 

Headwork usually refers to port/polishing of the intake and exhaust ports. Or reshaping the combustion chambers, etc. Head milling is literally taking the head and shaving a very thin layer of metal off.

 

Thanks,

But when I go to Portflow's website, it says:

standard honda headwork
price 750.00

disassemble/ clean/ inspection
port & polish
multi-angle radius valve job
deshroud valve area in chamber
polish chambers
surface or mill to customer spec
assembly


So, is that milling or just port and polish of the cylinder head?

 

The spoon One layer HG is sounding nice. Anyone running it? I think i'll order one.

 

when you mill the head you are taking the material off the seating surface of the head are increasing the compression, headwork usally is decribing port / polish of the intake and exsust ports, welding and reshaping is done to reshape the combustion chamber to make the quench area smaller and in a better shape to make it more detation resistant.

 

been there, done that to my old b18c1... bad taste in mouth

- if you warp your head and you've shaved too much the first time... you're toast
- depending on how much you shaved, your timing belt might slap around a bit and the noise it makes is... disconcerting
- ditto for ignition timing. can get complicated with aftermarket cams, cam gears, and little experience

i'm almost recovered well... getting an itr has been good therapy for me

 

want 11.1:1? spend $55.76 plus shipping on a OEM ITR headgasket.

Drill the rivets out. All the little bronze ones around the edge.
Pull the three layers apart. Use the middle layer. Same as Spoon 1 layer. Go buy some headgasket sealant or gasket spray. Coat the metal layer, install and tighten the head bolts to 68 ft lbs.

****, if you want.. I'll drill the rivets out before I ship it out, should you deicde to go with this option and purchase one.

 

Mike K,

Your a good man. I appreciate the offer and will buy from you if I do it. I hope Acura spiff's you on the product you sell. If not, they need to check themselves, and give back to their employees.

 

So, can you polish the head without milling it?

 

Yes.

 

You CAN polish the head without milling it but it is always a good idea to slightly resurface it to make for a perfect gasket mating surface. Most machine shops only take 2 or 3 thousandths off to achieve this.

Wayne, call me if you're interested.

 

Mike K,

Don't you also have to get new head bolts when replacing the head? I thought they cannot be reused and recall they are quite pricey too. I think an ARP set is well over a 100 dollars.

Did you ever post the dyno chart of the motor with just CTR piston upgrade. This is something I have been debating for some time. Do you think the higher compression makes a big difference?

 

Hi Mke,

Nice way to pick up some compression! Price effective, too!<LOL>

How many Integras have you set-up using this gasket?

Do you think there is any possibility of long term gasket failure or leakage? I have 'heard' that the one-piece gasket that is being sold isn't that reliable. Of course, I've heard that about EVERYTHING at this point!

Thank you for the info!
John

 

Mike,

would you recommend getting the OEM ITR Head Gasket to raise the compression when running Nitrous or is that asking for trouble? You know me, always doing crazy ****, but of course I don't want to go over the edge and raise the compression so much to where when the Nitrous hits, I'll bend some valves or crack a piston...