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quick head gasket question

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Old 07-30-2008, 01:11 AM
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quick head gasket question

ok ive contenplating on with gaskets on wanna run on my 305 tbi. i wanna increase the compression. im about to put on World s/r heads (67cc,171cc)but just couldnt decide any opinion would help!

heres a few im looking at:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...=1#Application

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku
Old 07-30-2008, 01:34 AM
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Re: quick head gasket question

changing your headgasket makes such a small difference in compression ratio - a dyno would be hard pressed to notice a difference. What's your current compression ratio? Aluminum or Iron heads? Your best bet to increase compression ratio is to shave your heads, how much depends on a lot of things, like current valve clearance and dome/dished/flat-top pistons (piston to head clearance). Unless you currently have a .070" gasket or something silly, your butt-dyno wont even feel a difference in a 030" gasket difference.

going from .041 x 4.166 to a .015 x 4.1 gasket would do something like 8.316:1 to 8.858:1 - which is really next to nothing and would cost you a lot of money, because you have to do a lot of maching work to put in a shim gasket to the block and the heads. You're better off to shave your heads at that point. You should be aiming for closer to 9.5:1 to 10:1 compression ratio with iron heads (you'll have to fill up with premium gasoline). If you have aluminum heads you can aim for closer to 11:1 compression (again you'll have to run premium gasoline).

This assumes everything else is ready for the increased compression - ie. good strong block and you're getting a new head bolt set right?

cheers
Old 07-30-2008, 10:36 AM
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Re: quick head gasket question

Well that's strange... I switched from some thick **** victor headgasket to a .015 shim gasket and noticed an improvement. Engine has a bit more pop and I started running high 11's. Oh yeah, didn't have any extra machining done. Just popped the heads off, cleaned up everything and put the shim gaskets in. Been in there over a year now without problems.
Old 07-30-2008, 03:21 PM
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Re: quick head gasket question

the heads are iron i do have new head bolts to go on the pistons are stock flat top rite now the block is in good shap the current compression is around 9.3 or so
Old 01-21-2009, 02:48 AM
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Re: quick head gasket question

Originally Posted by EvilCartman
Well that's strange... I switched from some thick **** victor headgasket to a .015 shim gasket and noticed an improvement. Engine has a bit more pop and I started running high 11's. Oh yeah, didn't have any extra machining done. Just popped the heads off, cleaned up everything and put the shim gaskets in. Been in there over a year now without problems.
I hate to grave dig but it beats starting a new thread for a simple question. You say you didn't need any machine work to throw shim gaskets on. Would I be able to use them without machining if its a stock block never been touched and brand new aluminum heads?
Old 01-21-2009, 02:58 AM
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Re: quick head gasket question

Would be fine. Just make sure the deck is square.
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