head gasket and head bolt torque q's(new question)

[mister two]

i recently blew the head gasket on my fiat. NOT COOL!

i got her towed home to wanganui and ripped it all down. i am pretty much positive that it was the gasket so i am ordering a new one(have to regardless)
now it is an aluminium head on it and i dont know what i have to do to it before i bolt it all back up?
i have heard that ya have to skim it before or it will just blow another gasket? i can get it done easy enough, my brother is an engineer and did his head, but i am in a hurry to get it back together, and live in wellington so have to rely on favours, is it necessary?
the head looks okay, but i am no expert, it is the first time that i have stripped a motor down and people keep saying do this and do that, so if someone with real world knowledge could help that would be primo!

any help much appreciated
cheers, hayden

[ATAl]

It may have warped when / before the head gasket blew, you need to check that the head is straight by laying a straight edge across the combustion chamber side and measuring the gap (if any) at any point on the head between the straight edge and the head (excluding combustion chambers of course).

You'll need to look up what the limit is for that gap, if the gap is too large you'll need to get the head machined otherwise it should be alright as long as there are no large scratches in it.

It's a good idea to do the same thing to the block.

New head bolts are probably a good idea.

[CaM]

and make sure you clean up the head/block with some emery tape, ensures theres no gasket left on there at all

[mister two]

sweet cheers

[mister two]

anyone have any idea what torque the head bolts should be done up to?
i can't find shite on the net

read on one site that ya do em up sequentially first pass at 30ft-lb then 50 then 65. run the engine to operating temp then leave to cool(8-24hrs) then retorque it to 65ft-lb

Sound right?