thicker headgasket/spacer available?

[bullettdsm]

Well, somehow my machinist and I got involved in a "miscommunication." Long story short, I ended up with .042 taken off my ported and polished head. I am looking to put the red on there with fp2's and 9 to 1 pistons, so that's not gonna work. But the question is, should I take the head for another engine? Do they have a spacer/headgasket available that will get me into .02's area? The head should have been cut to .027 which will up my comp to where I wanted to be (around 9.5-9.6). If I could somehow bring the head to that number I may consider buying the spacer/HG. As the machinist/laborer put it, the "V-8's have it available but I don't know about your piddly cars" (yeah, I'll be talking to the owner Monday).

Thanks for any input,
MB

Edit: Oops. This is for my 94 AWD

 

[GVR4592]

I'm pretty sure that's way beyond the service limit of the cylinder head. I'd have to check my manual. Do you have adjustable cam gears?

 

[alex]

Well I havent heard of any spacers for a headgasket. The thickest i've seen a headgasket is .063". Maybe even put some copper spray in there even though I woulnd't recommend it.

You might just have to go with a new head.

What would adjustable cam gears do though? I don't see how they would do anything as far as his matters go. If so, please let me know, your always learning something ewn on these DSMs.

 

[GVR4592]

When you remove material from the cylinder head or the block cam timing is going to be off. Removing a lot of material would require adjustable cam gears to compensate for the timing being off so much. It's the same for any OHC engine.

 

[alex]

You could always advance your timing through DSM Link though, correct? Wouldn't the ECU though try to correct the timing automatically?

Sorry if I sound dumb. I"ve gone through the whole process of rebiulding engines with forged internals and resurfacing the block/head and I understand exactly what he is talking about. But I want to make sure I understand this because it is essential while tuning.

Thank you GVR4592

 

[GVR4592]

Ignition timing and cam timing are completely different. Dsmlink can control igntion timing, cam timing isn't adjustable on our cars without buying adjustable cam gears. Cam timing refers the camshafts opening and closing events in relationship to the crankshaft. Ignition timing refers to the point during the compression stroke that the spark plug fires

 

[alex]

Wow, it makes so much sense!!!

 

[bullettdsm]

I just want to clarify that I have another head that I will have to P+P for the engine with the red. I was considering if I could keep the head they cut to .042 for a less powerful turbo engine. I do build these over time and it may be worth it to keep this head if I can get a HG to work with (I hate to waste all that work of doing the valves and the P+P).

Gvr4592; yeah, you're right. When you shave the head that much (which I wanted to at 027) you do need to dial in the cams. Though on my NA I only dialed in the intake (with .020 taken off) but that was a special case. I like to up the comp on these engines for that little bit extra pop in the low end. I had a 4g63 with .030 taken off that worked out very nicely.

Alex, I know that you said that you "heard" but that number definitely peaks my interest. Any chance you can point me in the direction of where you heard that. I would like to check out that HG. Remember I am only looking to reuse this in an under 300 hp engine.

Thanks guys for the responses,
MB

 

[GVR4592]

The mitsubish mls is .067", but that's not going to fix the problem.

 

[alex]

I found it on Slow Boy Racing's website.

 

[bullettdsm]

Ah crap, Alex. I misread your post. I thought it read as +.063 (on top of the headgasket size). Oops.

BTW, thanks for the number GVR. You're correct that won't solve my problem.

MB

 

[steve-o_95_GST]

There is a shim gasket available, I got one when I rebuilt my 7 bolt. The machinest wanted to be on the safe side b/c the head was resurfaced before so he gave me the shim gasket when I got the head back.

 

[DSMraver]

Cometic MLS, they will make them in bigger thicknesses. I had a .071 here, and they go up to .120".

www.cometic.com

 

[bullettdsm]

Cometic MLS, they will make them in bigger thicknesses. I had a .071 here, and they go up to .120".

www.cometic.com

You beat me to the punch on that one DSMraver. I went back to the machine shop monday and talked to the owner. We called Cometic, they will even range over the .120
Owner was very cool and apologetic. We worked out a deal that made us both happy. I'm glad because they do good work (most times).

But thank you very much for the info DSMraver. I'm glad it is on this thread so that those searching can see it.

Thanks again to all.

MB