Max boost on a composite gasket

[rr06rs]

I'm just curious what the max boost level is that people have safely seen? I'm replacing it and throwing in ARP's but the motor is staying in the car so the block won't be resurfaced. For the record, the gasket isn't blown, it's just a high mileage engine with some seapage and I'm just doing the basic maintenance on it while I put it back together so I already know it's not warped.

Also, if I were to have the head alone decked, would it be possible to use a MLS maybe with some copper spray on just the block side or would it be recommended to still use a composite? It's going to be a stock 6 bolt running about 35lb's max on a 6057.

 

[99gst_racer]

Can I bring the head to a machine shop with the composite gasket I plan to use and have them oring the head and not the block.

Sure. I prefer to o-ring the block because it's not a soft sluminum surface, but many people (including Buschur Racing) prefer to o-ring the head. I can't tell you the specifics of it because I've never personally done it, but it is doable.

 

[ALBurgundy]

Im gonna call a machine shop tomorrow and see what this costs.
Any rough idea? I assume they would plain the head and then do it.

 

[Yamahaulin]

I believe the reason for preferring the head over the block is because if something bad happens and the groove is destroyed, as long as it's in the head that's all you replace. If it screws up in the block you have to replace the block and that's more cost. The head shop I worked at (Total Engine Airflow) we always did it in the head. Only once did we do a block and that's because it was customer demand.

 

[99gst_racer]

The shop that did my block work charges 2 hours of labor to o-ring a V8. So, $140.

I don't really remember what I paid, but I'd guess it was right around half that much. They're at $100 per head for o-ringing.

 

[Tanro]

Do the OEM Composites have metal rings around the cylinders? I assume they all do. I believe the Fel-Pro uses SS in the rings. If I were to do an o-ring setup on a future build should I use SS or copper? Would this be a good idea if Running a fel-pro?

I really don't like dealing with finicky MLS gaskets. I have had issues with them not sealing well, and the only way I would use one is with the machine shop doing the entire long block.

 

[ALBurgundy]

About 80 is what I was thinking plus the 60 for the composite HG.
Cost about the same for this as it does for the MLS gasket alone. And to use that you need a plained head and block.

This seems better and more cost effective

 

[1990AWD]

What is this o-ring setup your talking about? Never heard of it.

 

[99gst_racer]

Do the OEM Composites have metal rings around the cylinders?

Yeah, all composite gaskets have firing rings around the bores. I'll snag a pictures of the differences in a few.

 

[ALBurgundy]

What is this o-ring setup your talking about? Never heard of it.

read this entire thread and you will know.

 

[dmj]

I have been running a Felpro composite with the factory headbolts @20psi for 2.5 years now on a stock rebuilt block, proper mods are a must,

 

[99gst_racer]

Here's a shot of the Mitsu composite firing rings. These are both used gaskets. The left one was used with my o-rings, and the right was before the o-rings. I don't have a picture of the firing ring on the Felpro composite, but it is narrower, and probably wouldn't work nearly as well with an o-ring as the Mitsu gasket does.

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[Tanro]

Uhm... the firing ring in the Fel-Pros I get get is not any narrower.

 

[99gst_racer]

Trust me, it is. It's a small difference, but there is a difference. I might be able to measure the difference between them tomorrow if I still have a Felpro gasket at work.

 

[ALBurgundy]

That picture speaks for itself. The difference between the two is obvious.