forgive my ignorance boys and girls but i am not the most experienced when it comes to all things mechanical (i am more a bolt and unbolt kinda guy)

Could someone tell me, is it a must on the zetec engines to have the head skimmed before fitting a new headgasket or can you get away like some cars with just whacking on a new gasket and away you go ?

The car is a 1.8 Si R reg escort, its very tidy condition so i dont wana go down the lines of getting rid of it. I have ordered my gasket, cam belt and the locking tools, also have my oil, filter and coolant at the ready just need to know this one minor (yet crucial) point

Any advice welcomed, all the best dave

 

best to have it done really, its not dear and wil give a slight raise in compresson.

be a knob if you put it all back to gether and it still leaked becaused you hadnt