Head gasket dilemma.

[reddragon1]

Okay I'm not new to this by any means but I'm a little confused right now. I'm in the middle of a head swap in my car the longest by far . But I have a mls head gasket but I really don't feel like pulling the block out of the car for a decking at this point my question is how many have just cleaned the deck area and measured for straightness and used the mls like that? Or should I just throw a stock style back on and hope it does not split?

 

[MHuddy1213]

with the MLS it has to be perfect or it will not work

 

[WES_393]

How much power do you plan to make? Composite gaskets with the stock 6-bolt head bolts will hold over 450hp. Some have gotten away with prepping the block with fine grit sandpaper, checking for flatness, and getting the head resurfaced with a very fine surface finish. A member named Bogus has a good thread on how to prep for a MLS gasket. But I would still recommend composite or even composite + O-ringing the head/deck before MLS. I have never had good luck with them.

 

[reddragon1]

with the MLS it has to be perfect or it will not work

I know. But it's hard for me to justify pulling an entire short block out just for a decking you know then have to buy everything again. If I do that I might as well just rebuild. Then the car won't be a stock short block car you know what I mean?

 

[MHuddy1213]

i suggest doing exactly what wes said its your best bet without pulling it

 

[reddragon1]

Thank you both the car will be around 600 whp when the nitrous comes on so the composite will not work for me.