New head gasket?

[Slow99x]

I'm getting my t-belt and water pump but should I pull the head off and install a new Mitsu head gasket? I was also going to do ARP head studs but I don't know if I should just leave the head on the car and do the ARPs through the valve cover and not worry about the head gasket. Please give me some advice that will work the best and cost the least amount of money and time. My car has been down since January with a broken trans and I want to drive it again asap.

 

[1fast97gsx]

I wouldn't bother with the gasket. Just leave the head on and change the studs imo.

 

[UNDR PSI]

Unless your going to be pushing 18+ psi, then you should be fine.......all depends on how many miles youve got on the car

 

[1fast97gsx]

there's people running 24+ psi on a stock headgasket with just upgraded studs.

 

[UNDR PSI]

some people can push it, some people cant.......luck of the draw. Buddy pushing 17psi on stock headgasket blew it when racing a civic SI. Car had over 100,000 miles on it. Like I said....depends on the mileage. But the replacing the studs is a gread idea.

 

[Slow99x]

I don't know if any of you looked at my profile but I have a FP3052 which does not reach efficiency untill 20-22psi. I would like to run 25-28psi on some race gas. Please, someone who is actually running this type of setup and that boost, let me know what to do.

 

[TSIfreek]

Well with that kind of turbo on it you are putting a lot of pressure on that sock head gasket. If I was in your posistion with doing the timing belt you are already half way there I would take the head off take it to a repuatabe engine builder have him clean it up get a fresh valve job with new valve seals and use a comic HP head gasket on with the ARP head studs and you will be ready to go. The head gasket will cost you 100 the studs will cost 100 and the head job is around 500 just to give you an Idea.
I would not recomend just installing the head studs without takeing the head off and replacing the gasket since the gasket has a set posistion it is now in and may run ito problems if not replaced.
FFWD recomends the comic head gasket over the mitsu it has more sealing properties than the mitsu and the cost is about the same.
Good luck and take your time doing it right it sucks doing it twice.

 

[gritsak]

Well with that kind of turbo on it you are putting a lot of pressure on that sock head gasket. If I was in your posistion with doing the timing belt you are already half way there I would take the head off take it to a repuatabe engine builder have him clean it up get a fresh valve job with new valve seals and use a comic HP head gasket on with the ARP head studs and you will be ready to go. The head gasket will cost you 100 the studs will cost 100 and the head job is around 500 just to give you an Idea.
I would not recomend just installing the head studs without takeing the head off and replacing the gasket since the gasket has a set posistion it is now in and may run ito problems if not replaced.
FFWD recomends the comic head gasket over the mitsu it has more sealing properties than the mitsu and the cost is about the same.
Good luck and take your time doing it right it sucks doing it twice.

ide do a little more research before you go reccomending the COMETIC headgasket...

i would prolly just take the head off and get it cleaned up, resurfaced and put a mitsu MLS or just a stock composite will prolly work fine in your case with arp's...it would really suck to change the timing belt and all associated stuff..then blow the HG and have to re-do everything again

 

[RuBiCaNT5X]

ARP studs are a no brainer... they cost less than the OEM headbolts from Mitsu and are resuable. Try Summit for the best price on ARP Headstuds. I got mine for $100 shipped..n

 

[swing lo]

Got my ARP'S on ebay, 80 bucks shipped