I am doing an engine swap, a B16a1. I want to get the head milled down befor I put the engine in. Heres my question:

How much should I have it milled down?
What should I expect in HP gains?

The guy is charging $80 for takin off as much or as littel as I want, is that a good price? (btw he is known for head work and only head work).

 

dont mill the head to try to increase compression. if you want more compression/power try changing the pistons or use a thinner headgasket. milling the head could cause you more problems.

how much should you mill off the surface? about .005 just to make sure the surface is true.

 

I was not going to do it for sure so I won't. I jsut thought it was going to be some cheap HP, haha. But then again, no HP is cheap, well nitros maybe.

I do want to put a thinner head gasket, copper maybe?

 

thinner headgasket would be a good idea i guess.........but you wont see or feel much gains from it. a thinner headgasket might give you .1 or .2 CR more than what you have already.

since you have the head off the car why not pull the pistons out of the engine and replace them with high compression ones ffrom a CTR or something....... depending on the fuel octane in your area you should be just fine with those pistons in there......plus new piston rings and rod bearings is always nice to have.

 

Well I dont have the head off, the engines just not in the car yet so I dont mind doing that kinda work while the engine out of the car. I dont have the money for pistons or anything rigth now. I just spent it all on all the engine and swap. But maybe over the summer Damn seasonal unempolyment !!