Thin head gasket for more compression
#1
Thin head gasket for more compression
I have a 400sbc with a stock shortblock. It has 22cc dish cast pistons and I'm looking to squeeze a couple more hp out of it.
I have afr 195's with a 65cc chamber, so I have about 9.0 compression now
In looking on Summit's website, there isn't much to choose from for a 400sbc.
When I had my 383, I used a steel shim (0.015) and it worked great with lots of bottles of nitrous pushed thru it.
The thinnest gasket I can find is a 0.020. Which would push my compression to 9.3 or 9.4.
This one
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrg-1052g
Any steel shims (0.015) for a 400 sbc?
I have afr 195's with a 65cc chamber, so I have about 9.0 compression now
In looking on Summit's website, there isn't much to choose from for a 400sbc.
When I had my 383, I used a steel shim (0.015) and it worked great with lots of bottles of nitrous pushed thru it.
The thinnest gasket I can find is a 0.020. Which would push my compression to 9.3 or 9.4.
This one
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrg-1052g
Any steel shims (0.015) for a 400 sbc?
#2
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
IMO, from .020" to .015" isn't enough to ever notice. I'd just run the .020".
If money is no object, contact Cometic; they can do an .015" gasket for you.
If money is no object, contact Cometic; they can do an .015" gasket for you.
#3
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
put some flat-tops in there.
probably go great with the afr heads.
probably go great with the afr heads.
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#8
Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
A nice set of heads like that,I doubt I would suggest cutting them for a single build that I intended to replace.Wouldn't you be by far ahead of the game decking the block??.
#9
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
A different pushrod might be required depending on how close you were to having the correct length to begin with. If you were slightly shorter than optimum, then you may fall in exactly where you need to be. Considering that they make pushrods in .050" increments, it'll definitely be something that you'll have to measure to ensure that you're spot on.
As for raising the compression ratio, AFR specs .006" flat milling per cc.
65cc to 60cc will raise your compression about 1/2 a point and will require .030" to be removed. Using a general guideline of a 4% increase in HP per 1 point of increased compression, you may find that it's hardly worth the effort and expense for 10 hp (for a 500 hp engine to start with).
.030" removed from the heads will definitely require another look at push rod length.
Have you performed a compression test? Results from that may help you dial in the compression ratio that best suits your cam specs.
#11
Supreme Member
Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
I'm starting to build a data base for compression pressure vs compression ratio. I have most of the info I need about yours except cam specs. Specifically the advertised intake duration and whether you've installed the cam straight up.
Compression ratio, stroke, rod length, adv intake duration, elevation and temperature all factor in. It would be interesting to see how your estimated 9:1 stacks up against 150 psi cranking pressure.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ta-wanted.html
Compression ratio, stroke, rod length, adv intake duration, elevation and temperature all factor in. It would be interesting to see how your estimated 9:1 stacks up against 150 psi cranking pressure.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ta-wanted.html
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
If you have a stock short block,assuming stock bore & rods,you should be @ 9.2:1 now w/ a 65 cc head,unless it's been rebuilt w/ short pistons.What is your current deck hgt now.If you have a stock .025 deck hgt,a .020 gasket would have you with a .045 quench which is fine.If you have shorter pistons,you deck hgt could be as much as .045 & even a .015 won't fix that.Decking the block,or'changing pistons would be the only way to correct it.If your on the bottle,do you really wanna raise your CR? 145/150 seems a little low for a healthy 400.IDK your cam specs tho,so,maybe not.
Last edited by jokerZ71; 02-12-2014 at 08:51 PM.
#14
Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
I'm using a stocker .040 head gasket.
The shortblock is completely stock! When I bought it we re-ringed it and put in new bearings.
Stock dished 22cc cast pistons.
Here's my cam specs
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...?csid=122&sb=2
I wouldn't say my 400 is healthy, lol. When I got the block checked, it was right on the line to be bored. I chose not to, because this engine was a junk yard build and I didn't think it would've lasted this long or been this fast.
Anything I've read about engines and nitrous was that more compression equals more power.
I have to put new valve springs on before spring, so I figured I would take the heads off and put them on. I also have a small leak on the back of the intake as well that needs fixing
The shortblock is completely stock! When I bought it we re-ringed it and put in new bearings.
Stock dished 22cc cast pistons.
Here's my cam specs
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...?csid=122&sb=2
I wouldn't say my 400 is healthy, lol. When I got the block checked, it was right on the line to be bored. I chose not to, because this engine was a junk yard build and I didn't think it would've lasted this long or been this fast.
Anything I've read about engines and nitrous was that more compression equals more power.
I have to put new valve springs on before spring, so I figured I would take the heads off and put them on. I also have a small leak on the back of the intake as well that needs fixing
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
I just guessed .032 on gasket.You really could use some more CR with that cam,or'use a cam with an earlier IVC.The intake closes so late that your not building the cylinder psi that you could.Your DCR is like 7.5:1.I don't think a thinner gasket is gonna get ya where you need to be.You need to get your SCR up to about 10:1 to raise your DCR up to a respectable 8:1 DCR.To get there,you need a .015 gasket & still lose about 6 cc's either from the piston or chamber.You could advance the cam & maybe help some.
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
Honestly,No.I don't think you'll gain that much.Your only raising the SCR by 2/10s.Your DCR is still only gonna be approx 7.8:1.You would gain more by choosing another cam more suited to your CR.By using a .020 gasket & advancing your cam 4*,you could get SCR up about 9.5:1 & DCR to about 8:1.
#18
Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
Honestly,No.I don't think you'll gain that much.Your only raising the SCR by 2/10s.Your DCR is still only gonna be approx 7.8:1.You would gain more by choosing another cam more suited to your CR.By using a .020 gasket & advancing your cam 4*,you could get SCR up about 9.5:1 & DCR to about 8:1.
#19
Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
I just did the scr on here
http://www.wallaceracing.com/cr_test2.php
.04 gasket was 9.09
0.02 was 9.48
http://www.wallaceracing.com/cr_test2.php
.04 gasket was 9.09
0.02 was 9.48
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
I just did the scr on here
http://www.wallaceracing.com/cr_test2.php
.04 gasket was 9.09
0.02 was 9.48
http://www.wallaceracing.com/cr_test2.php
.04 gasket was 9.09
0.02 was 9.48
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
Ok, maybe too many beers.....what IVC?
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
With the heads you have,you could prolly increase DCR between 8.5:1 & 9:1 & still run on 91/92 with a good tune & proper cooling.Getting DCR up will increase your power.Rite now,you're leaving a lot on the table.
Last edited by jokerZ71; 02-13-2014 at 04:41 AM.
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Re: Thin head gasket for more compression
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