Stock Head Gasket or Metal Head Gasket

[larryd]

ok as most of you know im in the midst of doing the head gasket and a bunch of other stuff on my GST.. Ill have the head back Wednesday to put back on the car so I need to make up my mind on what to do head gasket wise.. before people were telling me to go with the metal head gasket which I bought and is sitting in my garage and now people are telling me to go with the stock head gasket becuase of seating issues. I have no problem buying the stock head gasket but I want to here reasons why I should go stock and not metal or vice versa so I can make up my mind.. What is the stock head gasket rated at hp wise?? I have 3 days before I have to order it.. Please help

 

[swordfish]

The stock HG will handle over 400 whp. It should be fine for you. Check out this car, stock HG.

Dre's car

jeff

 

[larryd]

ok, one for stock head gasket.. anyone else care to clue in?

 

[AWDkitkat]

stock is all ive been able to hold. i even reused one one time and just used copper spray on it. held 22 psi np. i have yet to use a metal (other than a copper hg), so i have no personal exp with it.

 

[DMS-WhiteGSX]

My friend uses a metal headgasket on his eclipse.. If you have the car apart, dont replace anything with stock parts..

Go with the metal, you'll thank me down the road..

 

[larryd]

ok so thats one metal and one stock.. i figured that was gonna happen..

 

[DMS-WhiteGSX]

Let me sway you more..

You ever want to run huge boost on a big turbo?

If so... I'd go metal..

 

[larryd]

but if the stock head gasket is rated to 400whp, thats more then i ever intend on running..

 

[DMS-WhiteGSX]

Yeah, but I've seen cars with less blowing it out. Yeah, the metal is more expensive, but in my opinion, its well worth it.. I'm planning on changing it over a little while after I get my new turbo.. Its alot harder to blow out, and if you change over to a stock, and blow it out, you'll have to rip apart your car again.. Its not likely to do it again after a metal one..

Also, are you doing ARP head studs?

 

[larryd]

yes but the cars youve seen blow out the stock one like myself have these cars had ARP head studs or stock bolts?? Im pretty sure mine blew from lifting the head off the block.. now im going to be using ARP head studs so that should never happen again.. the argument against using the metal head gasket is becuase since I didnt have the block decked I cant be gauranteed it will seat properly with a metal head gasket..

 

[DMS-WhiteGSX]

well, if you didnt get it decked, then do what you want to do.. your right, it may not sit right with a metal head gasket, but if your worrying about that then why even bring it up.. If thats the problem then go with a stock headgasket.. I was just saying, thats what I would do if I was in your shoes, and I knew that the block was okay... I've seen alot of cars float the head, and that can cause alot of scoring in the block itself, which may have happened to you.. if your worrying about a metal not fitting right, then go with a stock headgasket.

 

[AWDkitkat]

22 psi on a stock REUSED hg. you tell me how they hold.
as far as not replacing anything with stock parts.... im a huge fan of oem.

 

[AWDkitkat]

but what do i know. i blow something up atleast once a week.

 

[larryd]

Originally posted by DMS-WhiteGSX
well, if you didnt get it decked, then do what you want to do.. your right, it may not sit right with a metal head gasket, but if your worrying about that then why even bring it up.. If thats the problem then go with a stock headgasket.. I was just saying, thats what I would do if I was in your shoes, and I knew that the block was okay... I've seen alot of cars float the head, and that can cause alot of scoring in the block itself, which may have happened to you.. if your worrying about a metal not fitting right, then go with a stock headgasket.

i wasnt worried at first, then someoen told me I shoulda had the block decked and since i didnt I wasnt sure what to do.. I guess Im just gonna order the OEM.. Id rather it still be the weak link on the car for now

 

[AWDkitkat]

your block is closed iron. just take a streight edge to it to be sure, i bet its fine.

 

[HighPsi91]

Why dont you email dre and ask how many stock headgaskets he has been through. You may change your mind.

 

[larryd]

who is DRE?

 

[HighPsi91]

Swordfish posted a link to his site. He has made some very impressive HP numbers on pump gas. A fine example of whats possible.

 

[Silent2g]

larry, i posted someone to contact who has been in the game since day one
buschar racing.
jump on the talon dugest and and around

i had a stock HG on my gsx with arp hardware all over. held over 28 psi and the car put down over 400 to the wheels


to answer someone else
if you have a brake master cylinder go bad, what do you use? remaned ****? no, you go oem. somethings will never be better then the oem, other things are better.

just depends on which way you chose to go.

 

[larryd]

but even the metal gasket is OEM.. its a lancer gasket right?

 

[Silent2g]

its metal to a certain degree
mitsu makes the stock one AND a metal one
the one i had was like 47 bucks from mitsu. no biggie really. it held 21 psi even with a head stud loose
{don't ask me how it happened}
torqued to around 78-82 ft lbs, nevr had a problem with it

 

[larryd]

well thats the one i have.. it was like 65 bucks from Conicelli.. Im debating on wether I should use it or get the OEM one instead

 

[Silent2g]

id go with the stock one for now, you have the arp gear to hold it down. me personally, i think the car will be fine with it.

 

[HighPsi91]

Mitsubishi's metal headgasket is a MLS (Multi Layer Steel) gasket. MLS gaskets are one of the newer developments in head gasket technology. Mitsubishi's gasket was not ever put on a production engine that I am aware of. It was originally marketed in other countries for the Evolutions under the Ralliart name. There are many advantages to MLS head gaskets. Just a few advantages are: 1) they are able to seal much higher cylinder pressures than conventional composite gaskets. 2)Metal headgaskets are better at conducting heat between the head and block. 3) Metal headgaskets are better able to aid in keeping the block and heads deck surfaces integrity.

Mrgasket as well as victor reinz are releasing new applications for MLS gaskets all the time. It is the best headgasket available. That doesnt mean you need it. However if 28psi semi regularly is in your future its good assurance.

 

[JET]

A straight edge on your block isn't going to tell you jack. We are talking a hair's width (.004"). The guy in the last thread about this that talked about a warped block, that is not the problem. It is poor OEM tolerances that are the problem. They are not meant to run a metal head gasket, so they leave the tolerance more wide open which means a cheaper part. I have been a machinist for 9 years.