It is always refreshing to see how a professional does it, or a craftsman for that matter. I get tired reading countless posts and comments of supposed experts, the proof is in the pudding and this guy knows his #OOPS#.

I first came across Knight engines when someone told me about the revival of a completely derelict Isuzu Bellet cylinder head, the entire head was soft as cheese and this guy got it back into shape, the craftsman way. I used to live in Adelaide and I now wish I sent my heads his way.

A good, simple read void of bullshit.

Doing some stupid #OOPS# to an old Datsun head

I'm still very much learning about all this stuff... but wow. Even I can see the amazing work there, what a magician!

I'm looking forward to see what numbers it puts out, very impressive.

How do they unsoften it?

How do they harden a cylinder head? Tony work-hardens the welds, specifically peening it with a hammer until its hard enough (metallic crystal structure is aligned, I reckon).

I was wondering how they fix an entire head that has gone soft?

for a whole head, it would have to be heat treating to re-harden the material I imagine

See this is what I don't get but im sure its my lack of experience. If heat was the thing that soften it then how does it harden it again? :/

That part would come down to chemistry.

Heating a metal and then cooling it slowly makes the metal softer but less prone to cracking. However, if you heat the metal and cool it quickly it becomes harder, the down side to this is it means it also becomes more brittle. They've been using those principals for centuries, blacksmiths used to do the same thing for weapons and armour.

The idea is normally to find the perfect balance for the required task.

You can try it out yourself if you're curious, just grab a couple of paper clips and heat them up on the stove. Put one in ice water as soon as you remove it from the heat, and leave the other to cool down by itself. Come back once they've cooled down and try bending one after the other.

BOOM! Science.

WOW flatto I'm impressed that would have to be the first msg I've read that u havnt referred to having sex with an animal or sorts. Nice to meet the real u...

Bravo Flatto. Informative post as are your other recent posts.

I feel like you have me mixed up with someone like Flanders?