TD05HTalon
20+ Year Contributor
- 128
- 0
- May 2, 2003
-
Gainesville,
FloridaUS
My new engine is O-Ringed. I have a groove that is 39/1000 of an inch wide and 23/1000 of an inch deep cut around each cylinder in the block. I'm using 35/1000 inch thick stainless steel welding wire to lay in the groove so it will protrude about 12-13/1000 of an inch above the surface of the block. The gasket is an SCE copper one. If i can get a digital camera I'll take a picture and show you what the block looks like.
I almost forgot: here's some more info:
You want to use SS wire because it does not compress - it is harder than copper. The purpose of the wire is to cut into the gasket to provide additional clamping force around the combustion chamber since copper gaskets are flat and do not deform like regular gaskets. Therefore the clamping force between the block and head are uniform all over the gasket and you want extra pressure around the cylinder. That's why most gaskets have fire rings - to provide heat resistance (copper doesn't have this problem) and additional clamping load.
I almost forgot: here's some more info:
You want to use SS wire because it does not compress - it is harder than copper. The purpose of the wire is to cut into the gasket to provide additional clamping force around the combustion chamber since copper gaskets are flat and do not deform like regular gaskets. Therefore the clamping force between the block and head are uniform all over the gasket and you want extra pressure around the cylinder. That's why most gaskets have fire rings - to provide heat resistance (copper doesn't have this problem) and additional clamping load.