Head gasket

[zephyr_8]

I know this is a Extreme tech forum so i apologize if this is a little too low tech of a question.
I have been blowing headgaskets lately and i am starting to get a little annoyed. I am wondering what you guys recommend as far as a headgasket for a 1st gen low compression(stock 7.8, 10000 miles on the motor i rebuilt) and that i will be running around 16 psi and i plan to later up the boost.I intend to run the car hard. It is stock turbo but i will be porting it and flowing it(the head, turbo, exhaust manifold, and o2). My instructor at school recommended fel-pro but i don't know how much expierence he has with 4g63s. What do you guys think? I am going to be getting the head pressure checked to see if it is cracked. I will also get it skimmed to make sure the sealing surface is good. Thanks for your input.

 

[baby huie]

cosmetic head gaskets are good i have pushed 30 psi through mine and have had no problems.

 

[zephyr_8]

hmm, ok i was considering that headgasket. Did you have to skim the block when you put that in? It isn't really an option for me to pull the block, if it is warped i will but i haven't had a chance to check it with a straight edge yet so hopefully it is not. I am just trying to find the best choice for my application. Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[TSIfreek]

Use a stock OEM gasket in your aplication since the head and deck have not been recenly been machined. The steel HG need a perfect surface to seal against or they will leak everything.

 

[anconover]

have the head checked for straightness when you pull it off if your popping them often. And use an OEM headgasket. Also, make sure your not detonating like ungodly crazy causing them to pop.

 

[gsxtacy]

I swear, I have never seen a "Cosmetic" head gasket. Where do you guys get this stuff?

There are "Composite" head gaskets, which are composed of composite material and metal o-rings for each cylinder and water/oil jackets.

Then there is the OEM style "Multi Layer Steel" gasket, that is composed of 4 layers of "metal".

Then there is Cometic. I can not tell the difference between a Cometic and a MLS, but everyone praises Cometic because they are designed for performance applications.

I recently blew the original head gasket on my 98' GSX. I purchased everything parts wise so I would have everything that was needed during the HG fix. I purchased ARP Head Studs for a 2G, Cometic Head Gasket, Head- Gasket Kit, Contitech Timing Belt Kit with all pulleys and BS belt.

When I lefted the head, it was obvious the HG was blown. It was made of Composite.

I recommend to you. Get a Cometic HG and ARP head studs. If you want to up the boost later and the HG survive, get the right parts. Might wanna do that other maintanence while your there, its a long ways back in there!

I recommend the following:

Cometic HG- Forced Performance
Copper Turbo Flange/manifold Gasket- Forced Performance
ARP 1G Head studs torqued to 22/46/63/83 lb. ft. (yeah 4 stages instead of three) in the correct sequence.
Contitech Timing Belt Kit- $112 www.pinamotorsports.com (ask for nick/andre if you call)
OEM Exhaust Manifold Gasket (4 layer one)- www.pinamotorsports.com
Water pump for your engine

Coolant Flush, oil change you should be good to go for 30 psi. Once your supporting mods are ready of course. Make sure to clean the Head surface gently and not use a die grinder or anything. Clean the block surface, its okay to clean the block surface with a die grinder and buffing pad, its cast iron....just don't bare down on it. Chase all the head bolt holes with the correct thread tap, and use the ARP supplied MOLY lube on both ends of the studs, and the nuts/washers. Torque to the specs listed above from inside out in 4 stages. You'll have no problems.

Good luck, say whats up to my boy Nick at Pina when you call!!

gsxtacy

 

[anconover]

I dont see too many praise the cometic personally. Id use a mitsu over cometic anyday. I see cometic as having 2 gaskets, the low pressure metal, and the high pressure metal, also known as, the 1 that pushes alot of coolant, and the one that pushes a little.

Use an oem composite, metal is pointless to run 16lbs of boost, and you may run into more problems of it not sealing properly.

 

[zephyr_8]

thanks guys, i will probably just get the composite headgasket.

oh and i am pretty sure he meant cometic not cosmetic, but yeah. Oh and i have all the other maintenance items, its just that i keep grenading headgaskets. The head is off to the machine shop tomorrow, or whenever i can wake up.

thanks again

 

[diambo4life]

Stock composite head gasket.

 

[Cody D]

What if you are pushing higher boost, around 25 psi with a T3/T4, do you guys still recommend an OEM composite over Cometic?

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

What if you are pushing higher boost, around 25 psi with a T3/T4, do you guys still recommend an OEM composite over Cometic?

You can run 30psi on a stock HG and head bolts, IF you know what you are doing.

 

[Cody D]

I guess tuning to get rid of pre-detonation is the key.

 

[goofynick6]

A friend of mine is having similar troubles; he's replaced the hg 3 times (on an SR20) and had the head milled, but he's narrowed it down to it being that the block needs to be decked and it must have a slight warp to it from he first overheating or something. So, the composite gasket is the best hope for you if you won't be getting them straightened I guess.

Nick