I plan to remove the valves on my duratec.
Do I need to adjust the valve clearence after that?
I don't plan to do anything with the valves/seats. I just want to examine them.
It seems to be an expensive job to sort out all the buckets, if i have to adjust them.

Does anyone know how much is safe to skim a duratec head?

As long as you refit the valves and buckets back in their original positions they will be fine.

Not sure on the max you can skim the head.

Might be worth looking at a thinner (Cometic) gasket unless you want some serious compression.
AND i thought Duratecs needed different pistons to increase compression, could be wrong!

Skimming the head will increase CR, but I dont know how much is safe, probably not much and for little gain. The std CR is already 10.8:1 and most high compression pistons will take it to 12.5:1.

Thanks for the replys.

I plan to skim the head only to make certain that the head is dead straight.

I hade enough of warped Zetec heads and blown head gaskets. So i don't want to start out with a blown Duratec head gasket.