DOHC head surfacing - Both sides?

[sd_iconoclast]

I have just surfaced the combustion chamber side of 4 DOHC heads. It took from .004 to .010 to clean them up. I am now wondering if I should surface the other side too. My thinking is this: If the combustion chamber side was warped, and I shaved it to make it flat, isn't it likely that the other side of the head is just as warped? But now I have cast that warp in stone by shaving the other side of the head. I am worried that I will bolt on the cam carriers and find that the cams do not turn. This would be because trhe cam carrier would be sitting on a surface that is not flat. Has anyone had problems like this? When you guys surfaced your heads, did you do both sides? Have you done one side and found evidence that the cam bores were no longer straight?

[dykz34]

I've never heard of that being done, but I don't think it is necessary because there isn't as much pressure in the cam carriers. The combustion chamber has insanely high compression in it whereas the cam carrier side only has the pressure from the oil. Plus, I would think that the gaskets on the cam carrier side would take up the difference.

[SappySE107]

You will throw off the cam to lifter clearance if you deck the top. No one decks the tops of heads. How would go about it on a pushrod head, or a head with the cams built in? No need to do anything to the tops of the head. If they were that warped, the heads would be junk.

[sd_iconoclast]

Thanks guys,
Of the four heads I have just reconditioned (all of them required surfacing), three of them have warpage on top of less than .0025" and the other one has warpage on top of about .004". In any case, I imagine the problem would be obvious. If I bolt on the cam carriers and the cams don't turn, then I will have to reconsider.
Thanks again for the advice. It has helped me out a lot.

[Juglenaut]

If the heads are warped that bad they are junk period.....

[sd_iconoclast]

If the heads are warped that bad they are junk period.....

Juglenaut,
How bad do you mean? .004" or .0025" or both?

[Juglenaut]

Period (o>.<o)