I know I've been posting alot about my cam and head swap, but I just want to get all this information beforehand instead of waiting till the last minute, and the search feature isnt returning the answer I'm looking for.

So I need to get gaskets for my rebuild (of course). Does anyone have experience with a kit they purchased that worked out for them? I already have gaskets for my TPI intake, and I am mostly concerned with the gaskets for the heads.

I was thinking of going GM Perfomance for those, with a .028 compressed thickness. I want to try to retain my current CR, as I can't afford to run 91 octane, and I'm running 89 now on my stock 9.3 (or 9.5, one or the other). Are these head gaskets going to hold up to daily driving with a heavy foot, and some occasional track time 1-2 times a year?

Is a .028 compressed thickness too little? What kind of thickness should I be looking into to retain current CR, maybe go a little higher?

Any suggestions for a full kit?


Thanks guys

 

A head gasket is a head gasket. Some are made better than others. Some compress more, giving you a SLIGHTLY higher compression ratio, nothing radical though.

Right now I have el-cheapo summit head gaskets, maybe a mile on the car, havent blown.

If youre worried, get a good set from felpro or gm.

In the long run, it all depends on the quality of the materials the gasket is made out of.

 

These ones from GM have stainless steel faces.

And it's good that your head gaskets lasted just about a mile, but I was thinking of something that would last a bit longer .

Just messing with you man, I hope they hold up great for ya.

 

I used Cometic MLS gaskets when I did my head swap (iron heads, iron block) and they work great. No leaks or anything, and I'm running nearly 11:1 compression. I also work it pretty hard at the track too. You should check out what Cometic has... they have almost any thickness you want.

IIRC, the stock head gasket for your car was a .015" steel shim gasket, although going to something a little bit thicker won't change things much. You'd NEVER notice the difference if you lost a little compression ratio by going to a slightly thicker gasket, like the .028" GMPP gaskets. A full point increase in compression ususally is no more than about a 10hp gain, usually less than that. So if you lost a tiny little bit (we're talking less than 1/2 point here) you'd never know the difference.

 

I'm glad you actually mentioned the iron to iron. My heads are going to be aluminum. Does that change anything? I've heard myths about bad things happening with iron to aluminum mating, so I just wanna be safe here.

 

Yes it can... some types of gaskets will not work very well, because they will cause brinelling. Brinelling is basically a scoring of the surface of the aluminum head, because of the different expansion rates of aluminum and iron. Some gasket types will cause this to happen, others will not. It would be wise to talk to the mfg of whatever gasket you decide on before you buy the gaskets, and see what they say about using said gaskets with aluminum heads.

 

Okay, I planned on getting the heads this friday, then waiting two weeks until I have enough for the rest so I can also check the specs that come with the heads. Hopefully there will be something in there about that. But it is true then that you should use a specific type of gasket?

 

ok, then I HIGHLY recommend you using head bolt washers with aluminum heads. Same sorta reason air adam mentioned.

gasket set; I got a summit set, and haven't had a lot of luck with it. Many leaks. They're standard plain jane gaskets that have been used for many many years, which I figured, if they're good enough for Joe blow for the last 40 years, they're good enough for me. I don't need the fancy schmancy new style that makes it idiot proof..
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well you know where this is going, since it was the first time I did that sorta thing, idiot proof is worth the extra couple bucks. Saves more coolant that you have to had when its leaking on the floor, saves the oil stains in the driveway of the rental house, etc etc.
I'd recommend a rubber valve cover gasket set. Use lots of RTV on the waterneck gasket.

 

Good tip, that really sucks thuogh. I used Summit's gaskets that came with their headers...and well, yeah I have that dreaded ticking with acceleration...that sealed like crap.

What was the part number, just so I can compare?

 

I forget, it was like a $28 full gasket set for SBC's. And yea, i'm going to be replacing my header gaskets soon too...