Cylinder Height variance

[msfinlayson1]

Is there an acceptable cylinder Height variance ? Relating to the Head being able to still make a good seal across both cylinders. When dialing in my deck height I put a level across the tops of the cylinders and noticed about a .002 variance with a feeler gauge till the level had no rocking. So I measured the cylinders at 4 points around each base that touches the case and most had some variance of up to .002 . I had already surface plated the tops of the cylinders so I am assuming the variance is in the bases.

Do I take them to a machine shop and try and true the bases up?
It’s a stock motor build 1300cc
The case was decked at the machine shop when it was line bored.

[RWK]

Looks like you're checking the wrong ledge, should be 0 difference, never seen them very more then .002

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73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530

[RWK]

Check your case decks first, if they are ok then move to cyl. finally head seats for cyl., all should be parallel.
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73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530

[modok]

It is acceptable for the case surface to be .001 or .002" high in the middle when assembled with bearings. This is because the center bearing has a heavy interference fit.

I don't really know why people bolt down cylinders to measure them, I don't.
Sometimes you have to put a small 45 degree chamfer on the case bore to get them to sit flat. Maybe this is why?

Those look like 10mm studs, consider changing to 8mm

I don't panic, but look at this
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=781058

[msfinlayson1]

Thanks Modok, it does have 10mm studs with Case savers. I consider changing them to 8mm with case savers. But was concerned with the case all ready being decked that I may cause more issues removing and replacing the case savers and possibly not get the new ones to sit flush. With it being a pretty much stock 1300cc I thought the 10mm with savers would be ok?

[Rob Combs]

This feels like the time for a stupid idea...

Could you take a couple pieces of thin-gauge solder placed 180* apart from each other on each cylinder top, torque it all together, pull the heads back off, and then mike the crushed solder pieces to see if the .002" variance remains?

The solder will reach a minimum crush thickness somewhere above zero, but it's the variance we're trying to solve. This would indicate if the variance goes away with full torque-down.

Or would that damage the head sealing surface?

Any other things I'm missing?

[msfinlayson1]

So it appears there is about a .004 difference across the deck of the case.

[jason]

How straight is your level?

[msfinlayson1]

[RWK]

Has the case ever been decked?
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73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530

[msfinlayson1]

[modok]

I'd suspect the milling machine that decked that case has a sad table.

[msfinlayson1]

[SGKent]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017CFWP58?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[veedubcrazy]

Maybe use a paper gasket under the barrel to make up for the difference?
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1967 Deluxe Sedan
1971 Squareback - "The Silver Surfer"