Hi all, ive recently purchased a second hand cosworth engine with the head gasket blown, once i stripped it down i notice on each cylinder of the block there was a ring that was raised above the block face, im unsure if this has been modified or had new liners, you cant move the rings there solid,any help please

 

Probably just wore rings to help the head gasket seal, used to be common on cosworth engines and involves machining grooves in the block and putting wire in them. Not used as much now, but nothing wrong with the method,

 

I heard once its been wire rung, and the head lifts, the block is pretty much trashed? This was some years ago though, I could well be way off the mark...