Skimming off the inlet and exhaust gasket faces, fly cutting is fine for this! Makes the seal more reliable if you have a nice clean face and looks nice too
Head just about ready, another wash before another dry build!
Inlet manifold ported and ready. I make a specific GSXR bodies set up for the race engines, slightly bigger bodies, different shape tracts to suit the ported head (ported with the head, so even better than "Direct to head" type bodies), twin injectors and trumpet profile I've evolved to create the right pulse tuned response with the race engine package.
Lots of nice shiny and mostly new bits. I favour genuine for most of the seals, gaskets etc; quality is consistent and often cheaper than aftermarket bizarrely.
New core plugs going into the block. They don't ever really need to be replaced in these engines, but looks right!
Checking crank end float. You can see some surface rust on the block, despite the care I take to avoid it! Note gasket lines not painted to ensure a good face for the sealant. I hate oil leaks and it cleans up easier like that during a rebuild.
Head, ladders and cams laid out ready for valve clearance machining.
Pistons going in for the last time. I have sleeve type ring compressors for my regular bore sizes, much much gentler and easier to use than clamp type.
Checking valve to piston drop before the head's final assembly. I've already worked it out, but a physical check confirms it and informs me the safe amount of cam swing. My cam timing in this package is a fixed value really after extensive engine dyno testing of various configurations, but I prefer to know and have good notes, in case I discover a better way in the future.
Bottom end nearing completion! Note Peugeot Sport sump baffle. I know cheaper ones are available, but the manufacturing quality of this kit is the best I've seen We've considered making out own version, but we'd struggle to do it this well for the money, even with the machine and fabrication resources we have. I also much prefer the main bolt mounting to the faff of multiple gasket faces with a sandwich type. When you have to reliably seal and then clean and reseal at rebuild time, it starts to matter!
More from the final stages and mapping etc later.