Editing Milling cylinder heads

==Overview==
Cylinder heads are milled to raise compression or to correct the deck surface if it's warped or otherwise out of spec.

==How much to mill==
Generally speaking the less that's milled beyond what is needed to true the surfaces, the better. Care should be used when milling production heads because the castings are generally none too thick. Even so, builders have milled stock SBC heads all the way to where the intake seat is almost flush w/the deck surface, or to where the cooling passages around the spark plug are removed. Milling 0.125"-plus is not unusual, but this is usually only done where a race track/series has rules regarding what cylinder heads can be used. This is often "open chamber" SBC heads as was used in the smog years, the idea being the costs associated with engine building will be less using these commonly available heads.

The compression ratio can also be raised by using a thinner head gasket. Only when the thinnest practical head gasket is used should milling be considered. Not only are head gaskets cheaper than milling, but the decks will be thicker with less milling. As an example, the difference between a 0.041" thick head gasket and a 0.015" head gasket is almost 0.75:1 on a 350 SBC.

{{Note1}}It should be taken into consideration that when the heads are milled or a thinner head gasket used, the [http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Valve_train_geometry '''valve train geometry'''] changes, the [http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Valve_train_points_to_check piston to valve clearances] will be closer, as well as the [http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Quench '''quench measurement'''] will be reduced. 

==Correcting the intake flange==
Whenever the block or heads are milled, often the intake flanges and the ends of the intake manifold (or the surfaces of the block, or a combination of them both) need to be milled to correct the port and bolt hole alignment. 

===Mill the heads or the intake manifold?===
Often, builders opt to mill only the heads so any off the shelf intake manifold will fit the engine. In any event, it is better to keep all the modifications to either the cylinder head or intake manifold- one or the other. Otherwise, the heads and intake become basically inseparable. 

On engines that show an amount to be removed from the ends in the table below, do a mock up ''before'' milling because in cases where the intake seals the lifter valley (like the SBC) there may be enough clearance without milling the ends. Always seal the ends using RTV whenever possible. On engines that use a separate valley cover, the ends need to be checked.

===How much to mill the decks===
Whether milling the intake mounting surfaces is necessary and how much needs to be removed depends on the angles involved and how much material was removed from the decks. 

While there are math formulas for this, the table below is quick and easy to use. 

{{Note1}}The figures below are used when '''''flat milling''''' the decks.
;All measurements are in inches. 
<table border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="98%">
    <tr bgcolor="#DDDFFF">
        <td align="center" width="200"><p align="center"><font color="black">'''Engine/Head Type'''</font></p>
        </td>
        <td align="center" width="300"><p align="center"><font color="black">'''Amount to reduce chamber volume by 1cc'''</font></p>
        </td>
        <td align="center" width="300"><p align="center"><font color="black">'''Amount to mill intake flanges for each 0.010" removed from heads or block'''</font></p>
        </td>
        <td align="center" width="200"><p align="center"><font color="black">'''Amount to mill intake ends for each 0.010" removed from heads or block'''</font></p>
        </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''SBC 64cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0055</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0123</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0173</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''SBC 76cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0059</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0123</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0173</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''BBC 109cc closed chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0065</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0070</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0193</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''BBC 118cc open chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0050</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0070</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0193</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Ford 1965-'77 289-302'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0060</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0100</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0143</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Ford 1969-'77 351W'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0055</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0100</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0143</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Ford 1978-up 302/5.0L/351W'''<br>
        (except 1986 5.0 HO)</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0045</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0100</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0143</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Ford 351C'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0050</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0100</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0143</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Ford 385 Series with quench-type head'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200"><p align="center">.0050</p>
        </td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0100</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0143</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Ford 385 Series with open chamber head'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200"><p align="center">.0030</p>
        </td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0100</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0143</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Chrysler 273, 318ci "LA" with 57-61cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0053</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0095</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0144</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Chrysler 340-360ci "LA" with 63-71cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0048</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0095</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0144</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Chrysler B/RB with 66.5cc or 73.5cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0062</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0123</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">Not required</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Chrysler B/RB with 79/81/83cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0042</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0123</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">Not required</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Chrysler B/RB Max Wedge with 81 or 86cc chamber'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0050</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0120</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0170</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Olds 403-455'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">.0050</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">.0130</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">.0169</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Olds 350'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">.0060</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">.0130</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">.0169</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Pontiac 1965-'67'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0061</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0061</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">Not required</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Pontiac 1968-'70'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0052</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0052</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">Not required</td>
    </tr>
    <tr bgcolor="#F1F1F1">
        <td align="center" width="200">'''Pontiac 1971-'79'''</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0047</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">0.0047</td>
        <td align="center" width="200">Not required</td>
    </tr></table>

<br>
==Intake flange angles==
For those who would prefer to calculate it for themselves, the table below gives the intake flange angles. The amounts shown are how much difference there is from 90 degrees between the flange and deck. The flange angles listed below may be used with the following formula:
;Amount to be removed from intake flange = .707 ÷ (SIN (45 - intake face angle))


The table was copied without permission from my web site. sales@victorylibrary.com
<br>
==Another way to calculate the amount to remove==
In cases where the head in question isn't listed or the list cannot be accessed, the amount of material to remove from the cylinder head deck to reach a specific volume can be estimated by using a graduated burette or even a large syringe.

Assuming the target chamber volume is known, a burette or syringe can be used to dispense that amount of fluid into the chamber. Then measure down to the surface of the fluid and that will be the amount of material that needs to be removed from the deck.

Using a fluid other than water will make this easier, since water has a relatively high surface tension. Mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol with a drop or two of food coloring works well for this.

==CC'ing the chambers==
[[File:Cc chamber.jpg]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Dynamic_compression_ratio#Online_calculators Online compression ratio calculators]
*[[Valve train points to check]]
*[[Quench]]
*[[Valve train geometry]]
*[[Head gasket]]
<br><br>

{{newarticle1}} 

[[Category:Engine]]
[[Category: Cylinder head]]