In-truck Head Removal - need advice

[highperf4x4]

No don't worry about that trough. Just let the carb gasket cover it up but make sure you have the thick gasket. The one that's like 1/2" thick. It's an exhaust crossover.

As for running rich, you can lean down the idle jets on the carb. I wouldn't mess with cleaning the top of the pistons. At least nothing more than spraying on some carb cleaner and wiping off what you can with a rag.

That 1/4" ring around the top of the cylinders that you're talking about is a "ring ridge". It's caused by excessive cylinder wear from the piston rings. How thick is that ridge? It probably means you're going to get alot more blowby and that a full rebuild will be in the near future. At least you will have the heads done already and you can drive it a while first.

If you don't mind me asking, how much was your total valve job and did they do a 3 angle grind?