Morris Minor Owners Club

After three head gaskets going I decided to have the head and block checked by a local engineer. The crank will be checked in due course. The result is that the head is good, the block has 7 thou taken off.
Question; Do I need to skim the pistons as well or is there sufficient clearance in the head?

The pistons do not go into the head. They should remain well below the top of the block at all times.
Having just 7 thou taken off the block will not pose any problems at all.
To be absolutely certain of the clearance - fit the crank and pistons and bring each pistons up to TDC and see what the distance is from the top of the piston to the top of the block.
You will find that there is adequate clearance.
Do not forget that you also have the thickness of the head gasket as well and that adds to the clearance between valve and piston.

many thanks Phil

I can't imagine that 7 thou off the block made any significant difference to it's 'flatness' ! The head gasket should easily have coped with that small variance.... Look carefully at your assembly of the head to block -and make sure you retighten to 44 ft lbf after the first gentle heat cycle.