Best head gasket for boost
- Thread starter Quick 8
- Start date
Probably Corteco. If you are running on the street, say no to copper, it tends to leak water most everywhere after a couple miles. NOS are awful hard to find, and don't seem to seal as well as regular aftermarket (Felpro) replacements. The only advantage of a NOS steel shim gasket is that it doesn't drop the compression ratio. That is not an advantage on a turbo car.
I think that Does10s (quickest 250 powered Falcon in the USA) runs a Corteco.
I think that Does10s (quickest 250 powered Falcon in the USA) runs a Corteco.
Well, Copper works well to keep the boost in the cyl. But like Wallaka said they do seep coolant. O-ringing the block is mandatory.
Corteco and Fel-Pro both work OK if you keep the boost levels down below about 10 lbs. (and a good tune up!)
The best would be to use a MLS (multi-layer steel) type. Cometic is the most common. But currently there isn't a manufacturer who wants to produce them. I've contacted them all! They all want some serious up front money, (~$10k) just to do the engineering.
A buddy of mine here is willing to digitize the copper gasket that we have and then CNC a sheet of alum. and two very thin sheets of stainless so that we can just make our own MLS gaskets.
But that'll take some time to get accomplished.
Will
Corteco and Fel-Pro both work OK if you keep the boost levels down below about 10 lbs. (and a good tune up!)
The best would be to use a MLS (multi-layer steel) type. Cometic is the most common. But currently there isn't a manufacturer who wants to produce them. I've contacted them all! They all want some serious up front money, (~$10k) just to do the engineering.
A buddy of mine here is willing to digitize the copper gasket that we have and then CNC a sheet of alum. and two very thin sheets of stainless so that we can just make our own MLS gaskets.
But that'll take some time to get accomplished.
Will
I have .086 copper head gaskets in stock, but can get them in any thickness. They are pricy at $150 each, but right now its the only way to go if you are going to run high bosst pressures.
Corteco was going to make their high performance gaskets for us, but they were bought out by ROL earlier this year. I contacted ROL to see if they would still do them and was told they won't do anything until the companies are fully merged (moved). Was told to call them back, in Sept or Oct.
Corteco was going to make their high performance gaskets for us, but they were bought out by ROL earlier this year. I contacted ROL to see if they would still do them and was told they won't do anything until the companies are fully merged (moved). Was told to call them back, in Sept or Oct.
Ian,
Count me in for at least one! Probably more like a few.
But I need them thick, (.080" or so) and with 9/16" bolt holes.
The only reason that I could see that it wouldn't work is that the outer SS layers on the Cometic ones anyway, have slightly raised areas around the water jackets to help with sealing.
Later,
Will
Count me in for at least one! Probably more like a few.
But I need them thick, (.080" or so) and with 9/16" bolt holes.
The only reason that I could see that it wouldn't work is that the outer SS layers on the Cometic ones anyway, have slightly raised areas around the water jackets to help with sealing.
Later,
Will
Okay, apparently I am an idiot. I looked again last night and .0625 1100 Series in a 24"x48" sheet is 62 bucks. That should be able to make 2 gaskets at least.
A peice of .008" thick 302 SS long enough for two is 34 bucks, so you are talking about 50$ in material per gasket as a starter.
Btw, .008 x2 + .0625 = .0785. Varying the thickness is pretty easy.
In quantity, I am sure we could get the labor cost below 50$ a pop - however I'm not really in a position (or willing) to front for having that many gaskets made.
In quantities of < 10 they would probably be about ~1000 for labor, so about 150$ per gasket.
I could be wrong, however. That's just my guess based on limited experience with similar parts.
A peice of .008" thick 302 SS long enough for two is 34 bucks, so you are talking about 50$ in material per gasket as a starter.
Btw, .008 x2 + .0625 = .0785. Varying the thickness is pretty easy.
In quantity, I am sure we could get the labor cost below 50$ a pop - however I'm not really in a position (or willing) to front for having that many gaskets made.
In quantities of < 10 they would probably be about ~1000 for labor, so about 150$ per gasket.
I could be wrong, however. That's just my guess based on limited experience with similar parts.
Stop the problems the Ford 240/ 300 inline 6 cylinder engines have with the leaking head gasket. This is a Felpro (Now factory Ford replacement) High Performance Steel Core Laminate head gasket with the Pre-flattened Stainless Steel Wire Ring for better compression sealing. Another great feature of these gaskets is the "Print-O-Seal" O-Ring around each water passage. If you've had problems or want to avoid them, this is the answer for the 240/ 300 cubic inch Ford in-liners. Gasket Bore - 4.180", Nominal Compressed Thickness - .039" and the Compressed Volume - 8.9cc
kirkallen143
Famous Member
Just adding to this, last Saturday I just blew my forth headgasket (Felpro) on the stock 200 w/ a single garrett "super 60".
Why? Here's what contributed to the factor:
1) 15psi (Felpro can handle b/tw 10-12psi)
2) 28 degrees total timing (my timing retard was non-functional)
3) 93 pump gas
4) 10% meth/ 90% H2O injected at 7psi (even though my AFR was 11.5:1 I could still hear denotation)
I did manage to poke the bronco back home. Time to get that head off again. Thought I let y'all know.
Kirk
Why? Here's what contributed to the factor:
1) 15psi (Felpro can handle b/tw 10-12psi)
2) 28 degrees total timing (my timing retard was non-functional)
3) 93 pump gas
4) 10% meth/ 90% H2O injected at 7psi (even though my AFR was 11.5:1 I could still hear denotation)
I did manage to poke the bronco back home. Time to get that head off again. Thought I let y'all know.
Kirk
Any idea what kind of boost a stock steel shim head gasket can hold if it was sprayed with Permatex copper coat and using ARP head studs and bumping torque to 105lbs?
We never had any luck with the copper spray on a Fel-Pro or Corteco gasket. It seemed to make it worse by allowing the gasket to slide (ie pushout ) easier.
If you using 1/2" studs, then 100ft/lbs. works just fine, but for a 7/16" head bolt or stud that's to much.
I think absolute max. for a 7/16" is 85ft/lbs.
Later,
Will
If you using 1/2" studs, then 100ft/lbs. works just fine, but for a 7/16" head bolt or stud that's to much.
I think absolute max. for a 7/16" is 85ft/lbs.
Later,
Will
fast64ranchero
Well-known member
I'm yet to blow the Fel pro gasket in my motor and I'm running 20lbs, 444hp and 497 ft lbs to the ground at 18 lbs, so I should be aound 470hp and over 500ft lbs now, I detailed how I install head gaskets on this form long ago, I do beleive if I was running my alum head it would not hold at that boost number, alum moves around way more then cast iron, so when I switch to that head/if I switch to that head,,, I'll be forced to drop the boost or use a copper w/fire rings and deal with the leaks,
When using the copper shim head gasket don't you have to O-ring the block or heads? (But not both).
gravelrash
Well-known member
kirkallen143":1cu2xo9p said:
the killer was the timing. no boost retard
