which mitsu. head gasket?

[J92EGSX]

i am building my engine for my dsm and i am about to put the head on, i was wondering which head gasket is the best, i have heard alot about the 4 layer ones and i was wondering if i should use that or the stock one that comes with the engine?

 

[TRBOTSI]

If you plan on anything above 450whp go with the 4 layer metal mistu. Only if you've had your head resurfaced. If your head has not been surfaced and or your plans don't include at least 450whp, use the regular composite stocker.

Many times the whole assembly process is much more important than the headgasket you use. Keep everything very clean and torque your studs or bolts in the correct sequence and to the correct torque spec and you'll be fine.

 

[BUCK]

Absolutely correct - Make sure & tap all holes till clean & use Anti Seize / Moly-Coat liberally - add any running Torque required to thread the fastener to final torque.

 

[Wobble]

unless your head is warped (car been overheated alot or something) you should be ok with the multi layer gasket, just used some copper silicone and MAKE SURE to either get new head studs or BETTER get ARP head bolts.. that torque to yeald crap just askes to be screwed up..

 

[BUCK]

Everybody has different opinions - I pretty much disagree with all of Wobble's...

I wouldn't use the Mitsu special order Multi Layer metal - go with the Stock Mitsu Composite - note that the ML Metal gasket lowers compression (thicker) & has a MUCH Higher trouble rate = LEAKS.

I have NEVER used Silicon on a Head Gasket in my rather long life - Although that may be the only way to keep the Metal Gasket from leaking... I have used a thin coat of Copper Coat but I don't do that anymore.

This is a 1G - so the stock Head Bolts are fine unless they've been damaged & stretched by a previous over-torquing. Use an Impact grade bit & 1/2 drive stuff when Torquing.

 

[Defiant]

How flat do DSM heads come off? It seemed like we _never_ found a flat Datsun L-series head (510, 610, Z, 810). We finally gave up on surfacing them, just pulled them down and ran them. There was no difference between the surfaced ones and the bolt & burn heads.

Buck, why'd you give up on Coppercoat?

 

[Rick@AP]

Probably becuase its such a pain in the tail to take the headgasket off again if you are using a composite gasket. Everytime I've tried to there are always pieces of the old gasket left on the block. However, I believe that the copper coat has saved me more than a few times though, so its going to be hard for me to give up on it.

 

[Wobble]

if you changed your HG every oil change or something i could see how avoiding the copper due to the mess would be a good thing... but since you prolly only gonna change it.. what once.. twice.. ever.. so, IMO the copper is a good fail safe.. JUST IN CASE..