[RobGTV]

Hi Guys,

I have been carefully cleaning my engine block and started removing the head gasket of the engine block with the normal gasket remover spray and some plastic scrappers and noticed on the sealing surface on the block there is a decent dent which appears to have been filed away at some stage.

So my obvious concern is whether it is alright to re-use this block or should it be placed in the scrap bin.

I would appreciate any help.

Cheers,

Rob.

 

[Erik]

Years back (when I was in the motor trade) we used some pasta and hardener to repair cracks in alu castings called Bellingzona (or very like). I would repair this this knock with that or similar. I' sure a machine shop or an Alfa specialist have some thing similar or the actual stuff.
Good luck

 

[gprocket]

JB Weld is your friend...

 

[Andrew]

That's not usual, I use a red flexible loctite sealer on head gasket perimeters that show corrosion, dings, whatnot, so far so good. I can get the number of the product if you care.

Andrew

 

[GTA R]

Years back (when I was in the motor trade) we used some pasta and hardener to repair cracks in alu castings called Bellingzona (or very like). I would repair this this knock with that or similar. I' sure a machine shop or an Alfa specialist have some thing similar or the actual stuff.
Good luck

The product you refer to is Belzona, excellent stuff, see this link :-

Belzona Repair Composites, Coatings and Lining distributor

You could also use Araldite Steel, or Araldite with any metal constituent, as long as you get the "ding" really well cleaned out first, or as Andrew suggests, some good quality Loctite sealer.
No need to scrap the block,

Steve

 

[RobGTV]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I was not aware there were so many options.
I had considered using something like araldite steel etc, but i'm not sure about using a product that once hardened will be harder than the aluminium surface. i.e. in case i had to remove any excess once hardened.
Andrew, could you please advise the product number of the flexible loctite sealer ?

Cheers,

Rob.