TOPIC:

I didn't expect to see this gap between the liner and the block, they are full of sludge and it is the exact point at which both sides of the engine leaked oil, should I just clean it and fit the new gasket or maybe put some sealer in?

Perfectly good and normal.............nothing at all to be concerned about.

They are all the same.

Just leave as is and clean the surface around as you do the rest of the surfaces.

Pete F
UK

There should be four of those gaps across the block just checked against another block for you I would clean out and flush, then re-fit gasket. Unless someone knows better.

What Pete said, had the same on mine.

Mark wrote: There should be four of those gaps across the block just checked against another block for you I would clean out and flush, then re-fit gasket. Unless someone knows better.

only 4 ??? is there not one on every sleeve ? i cant remember.

All the liners are the same shape for mating into each other the prominent gaps are on the external edges of Cylinder 1,3,4,6 I would imagine due to all liner external bores being round, without checking I would assume that there is some liner seal arrangements in place such as spaghetti seals, never removed the liners before so someone else will know that one .

Cheers guys, I thought it could have been a problem with my gasket leaking at both places, then again it had been sealed for the last 33yrs so if the new one does that I'll be 85 when I replace it again