Head thickness

[scotty]

I need a head and see people, vendors included, selling them thinner then the minimum. Is it really that critical in a push rod engine? I have a 1600 that is 81mm or 3.188"-can I get away with using it without dire consequences?

[S Allen]

The problem lies in the fact that shaved heads tend to run the engine on the hot side over 200 degrees. And we all know how much aluminum does not like to get heated up too much. I believe several of the vendors sell a thicker head gasket that can compensate for some shaving. Many people have scratched their heads as to why their car over heated until they figured out it was a shaved head. I prefer the cast iron heads but they are very hard to come by. They can take a lot of heat.

Steve