Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Cylinder Block Assembly: Testing and Inspection

Cleaning and Inspection


If the engine is disassembled, thoroughly clean the cylinder block with solvent. Remove old gasket material from all machined surfaces. Remove all plugs that seal oil passages, clean out all the passages. Blow out all passages, then bolt holes, etc. with compressed air. Make sure threads in the cylinder head bolt holes are clean. Dirt in the threads may cause binding and result in a false torque reading. Use a tap to true-up threads and to remove all deposits. Thoroughly clean the grooves in the crankshaft bearings and bearing retainers.


Check all machined surfaces for burrs, nicks, scratches and scores. Remove minor imperfections with an oil stone. Replace all plugs that show evidence of leakage. Inspect the cylinder walls for scoring, roughness or other signs of wear.


Cylinder Block Distortion


Check the cylinder block for flatness of the head gasket surface following the procedure and specifications recommended for the cylinder head. The cylinder block can be machined to bring the head gasket surface within the flatness specifications listed in Specifications, but not to exceed 0.254 mm (0.010 inch) stock removal from the original head gasket surface.