Got a Metal Headgasket on mistake should I use it?

[zachakagoat]

Ok I recently ordered all my headgasket/timing belt parts from one of the vendors on here and originally ordered the OEM stock gasket but I open up the box and they aparently have thrown in the 4 layer OEM gasket. Now I would LIKE to use this gasket but I didn't get my head decked or my block decked. I'm pretty sure they are fine but will be checking with a straight edge and a feeler gauge but what would be the limit on this? I am going to use ARP headstuds so it will be clamped down more that should allow it to seal easier. Thanks any help would be great I'm goin to check all this stuff out tonight I would like to get it all back together.

 

[zachakagoat]

Ok we decided to go ahead and use the headgasket, I checked the head and block with a feeler gauge and a straight edge and didn't find any warpage so it should be all good. I am using ARP headstuds and torqued them down to 80lbs and also used copper gasket maker on the headgasket to give it alittle more seal. I got it all back together and we'll find out tonight if it fixed my coolant problem or not

 

[Something Rudy]

good luck with that gasket. i just built the first block that i used that gasket on and it turned out to be a disaster. ended up emptying about a 1/2 gallon of coolant out of the exhaust And the worst part is i spent a couple hundred bucks getting the block and head checked by this local machine shop that builds race engines ( so i KNOW that nothing was warped). personally, I'll never go with one of those things again.

 

[97GSX-509]

!! Has anyone else had problems with these head gaskets???? I just put one on....

I did a valve replacement in Cyl #2 because of 2 chipped exhaust valves.....ended up picking up the 4-layer from a local guy for like $40 brand new, and still in the packing. Why are these head gaskets so bad???? Thanks

 

[tstkl]

Ok we decided to go ahead and use the headgasket, I checked the head and block with a feeler gauge and a straight edge and didn't find any warpage so it should be all good. I am using ARP headstuds and torqued them down to 80lbs and also used copper gasket maker on the headgasket to give it alittle more seal. I got it all back together and we'll find out tonight if it fixed my coolant problem or not

i know that you probably did, but just in case, did you make sure to torque it to 80 lbs, with apr lubricant.....because if you dont use it your saposed to torque it a lot higher...

 

[Prez]

i know that you probably did, but just in case, did you make sure to torque it to 80 lbs, with apr lubricant.....because if you dont use it your saposed to torque it a lot higher...

Yep if you use 30 weight oil you go to 90 or 95ft lbs. Ganna hve to check to make sure its on ARPs website.

 

[zachakagoat]

Ok I just got done putting it all back together and started her up and it sealed like a champ well as far as I can tell, no smoking at idle but we will see how she does with a nice hard run. All I did was drive down the road and back which is basically a long driveway. I let her run and revved her up abit for about 30 mins and she is still doing good. I coated the headgasket with this copper liquid stuff, its not the spray like most people use, I decided to use this because I could get the copper to go into the areas that I wanted with a thicker ring than with the spray.
I'll update everyone on it tommorrow.

 

[zachakagoat]

Ok so today I went and drove it for about 30 minutes back and forth down the road (didn't want to get too far away from the house incase something broke) and did a few 1-3 hard pulls up to bout 11psi (turned my mbc down). So far it is running great, pulls hard especially with the new 14b. The is a SLIGHT haze of smoke coming out of the exhaust but I think that is just left over antifreeze burning off out of the exhaust and possibly alittle gas smell I think I'm running slightly rich. I pulled off my radiator cap while it was running to see if I was getting any air bubbles and nothing it's nice and smooth.