Welding up a cylinder head for more compression?

[Kyle]

Has anyone done this? I've got a b16a head for my Integra build and I'm thinking about maybe trying to have the chambers welded up for a bit more compression. Good idea, bad idea?

[94mstng94]

I'm thinking it may be cheaper to buy a different set of pistons.

[shumpertdavid]

You might contact daniel at rusert machine from my sig. From what I understand there's a lot of variable that play in like quench area, valve shrouding, and heat buildup while welding. I'm sure daniel can give you some insite and possible cost involved.

[silverhatch]

That sounds like it would shroud the valves and kill air flow. Just trading one issue for another.

[BradM]

I would think that milling them down would be a better option. I'm no expert though.

[Kyle]

Thanks guys. I'm going to talk to the machine shop this week about decking the block and milling the head since its going to be a turbo motor using a Cometic head gasket. I don't know what the service limits are on a Honda motor, but some guys are milling the heads .040" which would get the C/R that I'm looking for.

[turbostang]

It's possible, and to do it "right" would be a LOT of welding - not to mention the surfacing afterward would be pretty substantial. You'd have to weld up the chambers, cut the seats out and weld them up, and then remaching the seats (to help the shrouding issue). After all that, I'd bet you ran into valve train problems because of the length of the valve etc... not to metion it would take a VERY good cylinder head guy to make the chambers useable OR someone with a 5 axis cnc machine...

I'd mill 'em.

I'd also look very close into the timing chain/belt tensioner - it may over extend and lose tension?

[Kyle]

It's possible, and to do it "right" would be a LOT of welding - not to mention the surfacing afterward would be pretty substantial. You'd have to weld up the chambers, cut the seats out and weld them up, and then remaching the seats (to help the shrouding issue). After all that, I'd bet you ran into valve train problems because of the length of the valve etc... not to metion it would take a VERY good cylinder head guy to make the chambers useable OR someone with a 5 axis cnc machine...

I'd mill 'em.

I'd also look very close into the timing chain/belt tensioner - it may over extend and lose tension?

I've been doing some reading about the belt issue. From what I've seen the guys that are milling their heads way down have to advance cam timing. Easily accomplished with a set of after market cam gears. I read some earlier every .012" milled or decked requires 1 degree of advance in cam timing.

[greenbullitt]

I've been doing some reading about the belt issue. From what I've seen the guys that are milling their heads way down have to advance cam timing. Easily accomplished with a set of after market cam gears. I read some earlier every .012" milled or decked requires 1 degree of advance in cam timing.

agreed. mod motors experience the same effects...

[Kyle]

agreed. mod motors experience the same effects...

Good to know that my info is reliable then. This shouldn't be a big deal when its time to put it all together.

[greenbullitt]

Good to know that my info is reliable then. This shouldn't be a big deal when its time to put it all together.

Not at all. degreeing when you have an adjustable cam gear is cake.