885 cylinder head shim, where to get, pros/cons

[rcfanatic]

I'm in the process of swapping an 885 head onto my b27 bottom end. It's at the machine shop now. Before I gave it to them I measured it to be 4.913" tall, and asked them to bring it down to 4.904 to increase compression.

Well they called me today and said they measure it to be 4.894-4.899, which is .030" below factory.

Does someone make a shim for the 885 head? How thick are they? I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. I don't want to bring it back to factory compression, but I don't want piston/valve clearance issues either. Depending on thickness of the shim I might ask them to take off more if the valve seats allow.

Thanks for the input guys

[Adrian_Visser]

Just get a thicker head gasket.

[rcfanatic]

Just get a thicker head gasket.

I thought about this but I didn't think they came very thick. Do you know how thick they are and/or where to find them? I couldn't find them through Google

[rcfanatic]

OK, I found it in a thread from 2004..

bmaparts.com has them
http://www.bmaparts.com/item.wws?sku...nz&weight=0.59

bmaparts doesn't offer a standard thickness victor reinz, so my question now is: are all of the victor reinz 0.3mm thicker? I have the full gasket set from Victor Reinz, do you think that the included gasket is 0.3mm thicker?

Edit: Does anyone know what the standard thickness is?

[jlevie]

A standard head gasket is 1.75mm thick and a "repair gasket" is 2.05mm thick.

[blueapplesoda]

if you need even more you can get an MLS, although pricey...

[digger]

stay away from Victor

[rcfanatic]

A standard head gasket is 1.75mm thick and a "repair gasket" is 2.05mm thick.

Perfect. Thanks Jim

if you need even more you can get an MLS, although pricey...

Hopefully not, but do you know where to find one?

stay away from Victor

I read some complaints about victor reinz but it mostly appeared to be conjecture. Anyone with a head that isn't straight will go through gaskets no matter who makes them. Anyway, I was going to get goetze to be on the safe side, but bavauto couldn't confirm if it their kit was victor or goetze.

[blueapplesoda]

After reading some of your other posts, it sounds like your head is right at the edge of being out of spec. Why not just source a newer head and work on that one? they can be had for less $ than all this work you are putting into it.

Cometic MLS gaskets....

[rcfanatic]

After reading some of your other posts, it sounds like your head is right at the edge of being out of spec. Why not just source a newer head and work on that one? they can be had for less $ than all this work you are putting into it.

Cometic MLS gaskets....

No kidding. The problem is that I don't live in California, so these parts don't grow on trees ;) Sourcing a "newer" head is just as big of a gamble, because I'd have to buy it online and couldn't go over it with a fine toothed comb. I was actually planning on making a thread about this experience I've had. Anyway, I've already invested enough money in this head to have bought a reman'ed head and have money left over.. grrr. Lessons learned, and at least I have a better understanding of this head now