Head Gasket Selection, Thick or Thin?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Tustin CA
Head Gasket Selection, Thick or Thin?
Hey Everyone,
After reading a bunch of threads it seems as though there are som differing opinions on the thin head gaskets.
I have a set of dart Iron Eagle heads that have a milled surface on them and I would like to use the thinest head gasket I possibly can to get the most compression possible (72cc heads) and I really don't want to have the heads milled.
My Question is can I use at .015" head gasket or will that just not work on a street car? The block in the car is about 6 years old and I don't wanna have to have the surface on it milled since I don't wanna pull it out of the car.
If I have to use a .041" gasket that is fine, I just want to make sure I am safe.
Thanks!
John
After reading a bunch of threads it seems as though there are som differing opinions on the thin head gaskets.
I have a set of dart Iron Eagle heads that have a milled surface on them and I would like to use the thinest head gasket I possibly can to get the most compression possible (72cc heads) and I really don't want to have the heads milled.
My Question is can I use at .015" head gasket or will that just not work on a street car? The block in the car is about 6 years old and I don't wanna have to have the surface on it milled since I don't wanna pull it out of the car.
If I have to use a .041" gasket that is fine, I just want to make sure I am safe.
Thanks!
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 432
From: Seattle Area WA
If the surfaces are good (clean and straight), I'd use the Fel Pro 1094 .015" Hyaplon coated gasket, assuming you have a standard deck height of .025". Use a steel machinist's rule on edge to check for any dips etc in the surfaces.
If you are tight, go up to a .026" Victor Reinz Head gasket.
If you are tight, go up to a .026" Victor Reinz Head gasket.
Last edited by Scott Marzahl; Jan 11, 2008 at 03:38 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
I'm using the Felpro 1094 coated .015 gasket. There is nothing wrong with using it on iron heads. You just have to make sure that the surfaces are clean. However, the difference between a .015 and a .041 is pretty large. The real question is, "What gasket works with your setup"?
What is your piston to deck clearance, compression ratio with each gasket, etc.?
What is your piston to deck clearance, compression ratio with each gasket, etc.?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Tustin CA
That I am not sure of because I have not taken the old heads off yet. If I have .025" then I can use the Felpro 1904 i take it? If I have less then that I should probably go with a standard gasket?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Tustin CA
They are the stock pistons which I imagine are dished. It is a Target Master Motor that was put in Dec 2001 and has about 4k miles on it I think. Only mods are intake manifold, carb, distributor and headers so everything is is whatever came from chevy.
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