Head gasket help

[mitsueclipse2g]

In the future I plan on running about 250whp and Im wondering if the stock head gasket and bolts would be able to hold that amount of power, or would I need arps and a mls gasket.

 

[1992awdlaser]

It should handle that power no problem. I am on a stock gasket with arp's and am running 25psi with my 50 Trim.

 

[mitsueclipse2g]

Oh ok, so if I throw in some arps I would have no problem boosting 20psi on the stock gasket.

 

[1992awdlaser]

You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Arps they have some nice prices from our vendors.

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

With arp's you'll be good to 20psi on the stock mls.

 

[nyTalonTsi]

Yup arps will hold it together if your looking to get around 250whp on a stock headgasket no problem.

 

[mitsueclipse2g]

Ok, would stock hg and head studs be able to handle a 16g at 15psi?

 

[spawn7037]

First of gsx7707, this is ridiculous, 8 POSTS IN A ROW. (pm sent from earlier multi posting found). Now back the the head gasket, I got a great deal from dsmparts on metal head gasket and arp head studs.

 

[jdodds]

You might as well be safe about it and get a metal head gasket with an ARP stud kit. Its definitely not gonna hurt anything to have that.

 

[1992awdlaser]

You might as well be safe about it and get a metal head gasket with an ARP stud kit. Its definitely not gonna hurt anything to have that.

The problem is, more times than not a metal hg won't seal perfectly without getting the head and block resurfaced.

 

[spawn7037]

The problem is, more times than not a metal hg won't seal perfectly without getting the head and block resurfaced.

You make a good point, I had the same thing happen to me. I'm looking at it from a rebuild point of view.

 

[cheap90gsx]

i would highly suggest a metal head gasket. not sure what the 'stock' gasket is like, but the oem replacements are junk.

 

[No_Skillz]

The OEM composite gasket + ARP headstuds are an intermediate performance combo that has handled 30 PSI by many members on this board. This combination is suggested for anyone who wants to run 20 PSI or more.

Above 30 PSI, a metal headgasket with ARPs is necessary, but this requires machining of the head and block to ensure a proper seal, and is more trouble than it's worth.

The OP would probably do fine with oem headgasket and oem head bolts. 250hp is not a huge bump in power over stock and does not require 20+ PSI.

 

[thewombis]

Why so much bashing on OEM head gaskets? Those gaskets are easily capable of high HP numbers. Also no need to have a perfectly machined surface to use. 250hp is not a problem for the stock bolts, or gasket in my eyes. With ARPs and a stock head gasket one could easily hit 400hp.