I smacked it a couple of times with the header flange. I'm getting ready to put the heads back on. Any advice?

Thanks!

 

that is not good, the one in between the water jacket and sleeve.
have no idea.
good luck!

 

Lightly sand it to take the edge down... use a gm MLS gasket with a copper spray on it.. hope for the best.

 

Copper spray wont take care of that one. Maybe?
You could take the block out and have it refinished.

MLS!

 

That's not bad. The scratch isn't all the way though. Just smooth it out and use an MLS gasket with a bore size that will cover the sleeve. Use copper spray. I put my motor together with a scratch like that and never had a problem.

 

Okay...maybe I will get flamed but Ive seen (and know( that some scratches like this have been repaired with epoxy. You know the one that is sold at Autozone, Pep Boys and the like, called JB-Weld. Thing is quite good and resistant too. No problems reported.

 

JB is great.. but for this application its not going to cut it.

 

Deff not a solution I would look to, deff get that head lapped at least, or resurfaced

 

just use some fine sand paper and smooth down the ridges.

 

Ive seen it "cut it". But anyways dont do what I said if you are not convinced, follow the advice of a good engine builder.

 

dont sand it.. i would use a fine file to take the edges down. that way you lower your risk of low spots.

 

J B weld with the iron filings is good to 600 degrees File it flat clean with solvent then skim it with the J B weld, good to go!

 

 

Thanks for all of the responses. Great input. The motor is NOT coming out. (Check my photobucket for pics of the install in my tiny garage) I'll put a match to it before I yank that thing again!!
I understand what will happen if I create a low spot. The filler idea is interesting...

 

I'd cheap out and lightly tap on it with a flat-faced hammer until it were low and then sand it. . .LIGHTLY TAP...

 

If you're not running nitrous or boost I would go with the GM graphite gasket, more forgiving to imperfections.

edit: sorry, saw you do run nitrous in your mod list.