Why No Gaskets For Compression?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,765
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From: Dana Point Ca
Why No Gaskets For Compression?
If someone wants to bolt on a P1 or D1 and shoot for 580 to 600 rwhp on the stock block, why doesn't anyone use gaskgets to lower the compression and make it a little safer? I am very close to pulling the trigger on one of these and don't want to spend the extra 5k right off the bat for a forged motor. I really havn't seen a post where someone has done this. Am I way off here? 
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,291
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From: Shavertown PA
Kind of a band aid approach. I did it first install on my mag with stock shortblock...I finally did blow the motor because of a lean condition in very cold weather...don't think it had a thing to do with the thicker gaskets. I believe I was running a Cometic .054 thickness.
Honestly if I had to repeat the process with what I know now...I would have went forged from day one. One install, one tune....done. Multiple trips to the tuner ain't cheap!!!
Good Luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 1
From: Richmond VA
Originally Posted by DDSLT5
Not a great way to do it - promotes hot spots, and thus, detonation. Better to enlarge the combustion chamber or dish the piston.
For argument sake, if you were to go with a thicker gasket... how much would you Really be able to lower your compression. I do not know the formula off hand to figure the compression ratio to see what the difference would be if your deck height with piston CC, and head CC were to remain constent.
I would guess that a gasket would only drop your compression .1 or .2, and in F/I, I do not see that really making a difference worth the effort.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 0
From: Shavertown PA
Try this:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/compcalc.html
http://users.erols.com/srweiss/calccr.htm
or download a free program here:
http://www.sophtwarekodewerks.com/enginecr.html
http://www.popularshareware.com/Engi...shot-1394.html
http://www.csgnetwork.com/compcalc.html
http://users.erols.com/srweiss/calccr.htm
or download a free program here:
http://www.sophtwarekodewerks.com/enginecr.html
http://www.popularshareware.com/Engi...shot-1394.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 2
From: Tx
The ls1 head/chamber design relies heavily on quench to promote swirl and a good clean detonation free burn. Thicker head gaskets kill quench (the area between the top of the piston and the flat area of the head chamber).
So you reduce compression but increase the chambers tendency to detonate. Not a good move IMHO. Run alky instead and you will be fine. Or just get some heads with a bigger chamber.
So you reduce compression but increase the chambers tendency to detonate. Not a good move IMHO. Run alky instead and you will be fine. Or just get some heads with a bigger chamber.
Last edited by QuickSilver2002; Apr 19, 2005 at 04:56 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,765
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From: Dana Point Ca
Originally Posted by DDSLT5
Not a great way to do it - promotes hot spots, and thus, detonation. Better to enlarge the combustion chamber or dish the piston.
Thanks guys
Premium Supporting Vendor
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From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
Originally Posted by vettethret
So thats the reason why people don't do it. I know 600 rwhp is not really safe for a stock block, BUT, if you used ALKY with a good tuner could 600 rwhp be considered relativley safe on a stock block?
Thanks guys
Thanks guys
We have several ZO6's at the 600rwhp mark without any failures to date. (knocking on wood)
Without alky. The alky would definatly increase your "insurance" but understand going into it that your are pushing alot of power there. If you are not financially prepared to go forged than I would suggest to keep it at the 550 range.BTW, quiksilver is correct on the gasket/ quench deal. Keep your heads on it untill you go forged.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
From: Dana Point Ca
Originally Posted by DOUG @ ECS
We have several ZO6's at the 600rwhp mark without any failures to date. (knocking on wood) Without alky. The alky would definatly increase your "insurance" but understand going into it that your are pushing alot of power there. If you are not financially prepared to go forged than I would suggest to keep it at the 550 range.
BTW, quiksilver is correct on the gasket/ quench deal. Keep your heads on it untill you go forged.
Without alky. The alky would definatly increase your "insurance" but understand going into it that your are pushing alot of power there. If you are not financially prepared to go forged than I would suggest to keep it at the 550 range.BTW, quiksilver is correct on the gasket/ quench deal. Keep your heads on it untill you go forged.
What am I looking at just for the forged short block? I would keep the stock LS6 heads since my goal is 600 rwhp. I know you guys put out the baddest blower cars around. I just need to find a shop to install it that knows the system.