Broke ringlands...need some advice on HG

[haioku-rocket]

Basically long story short got broke ringlands on my wife's car. I already have a plan for the car (done it before on previous cars). Leaving the engine/block in the car, going to pull the head, the oil pan, pull the pistons/rods through the top of the block, then re-hone the cylinders (as long as they aren't too bad), check bore size of course, and fit new stock pistons/rings and install them back in and torque them back in from the bottom. Of course while the head is off going to have the head decked, valves reground, and new stem seals.

I guess my question is I know that the MLS HG's like the mitsu and cometic HG etc pretty much require a mirror finish in order to seal properly. However since the block will not becoming out of the car then really the head will only have the machined finish. Is there a HG out there that I can get away with that is stronger than the OEM HG that can seal properly on a non-mirror finish?
I really didnt want to run a stock HG as I have already broke a stock HG on my car with ARPs and 26 psi daily in my car for a year really took its toll

any advice on HG's that can seal with not a perfect machined finish please chime in! Thanks.

 

[silver bullit]

Factory non metal hg.

 

[haioku-rocket]

yeah I didn't really want to go with that route as I already broke the OEM one before on my car.

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

O-ring the block in the car or even o-ring the head while it's out, use a factory gasket and L19 or A1 studs.

 

[haioku-rocket]

thanks for the advice, think that sounds like a plan. I figured thats what I would have to do.

 

[diambo4life]

The factory composite HG will work just fine even with no o-rings. Just because the gasket failed on you doesn't mean it's the culprit. A lot of things can prematurely kill a HG and quite honestly, that's what you want to happen instead of trashing expensive internals.

With that being said, I use the OEM MLS 4-layer with my home prep and it seals perfectly fine.

 

[dsm-onster]

I agree. Spend your money on ARP headstuds instead. Then you won't NEED to spend time/money on a mirror finish. With proper clamping, the stock headgasket can see 500whp cylinder pressures without exploding. Lifting the head, stretching the stock headbolts, is the primary reason why oem headgaskets fail on medium horsepower setups (350-550whp).

 

[bastarddsm]

you really should pull the block if you hone it. the grit that gets in everything from honing is super super abrasive. The only way to clean it is soap and water. Really don't chance it over 2-3 hrs of labor..

 

[haioku-rocket]

I agree. Spend your money on ARP headstuds instead. Then you won't NEED to spend time/money on a mirror finish. With proper clamping, the stock headgasket can see 500whp cylinder pressures without exploding. Lifting the head, stretching the stock headbolts, is the primary reason why oem headgaskets fail on medium horsepower setups (350-550whp).

thanks for the reply. Yeah my car and my wife's car has had ARP studs in them for over a year, so I already had that covered and understand that. Mine just decided to let go one day. I was doing knock/log runs and it let go in 4th gear @8000 RPM, hitting a total of 4-5 counts on my 50 trim, FP2s, meth, SMIM etc etc. Perhaps it was just that time? It sounds like a slow ass scooby now

 

[haioku-rocket]

you really should pull the block if you hone it. the grit that gets in everything from honing is super super abrasive. The only way to clean it is soap and water. Really don't chance it over 2-3 hrs of labor..

Yeah I know what you are saying. I usually put a rag in the bottom of the cylinders to catch everything. Even though there still is a chance. I appreciate the advice. I have done it before with no problems on other cars....shortcuts are like speeding..you just push it too many times until you get caught.