DynastyLCD
Well-known member
i was just reading through another thread about a head gasket problems.
background (first mistake): bought a junkyard 6 bolt longblock from a friend, for cheap. longblock, manifolds, radiator, hoses, t/case and trans for $600. i dropped it all in, she ran great. at the time it was: 16g, 680s, VPC/GCC, and all supporting mods. 3 times around the neighborhood, started misfiring pretty bad. took it home, did some diag, found a burnt exhaust valve.
rebuild: honed block, new rings, new bearings, reused rods/pistons, polished the crank, head was machined with all new SS valves, new valve seals, new front case/BSEK, ARPs & a mitsu 4 layer. then swapped 16g with 3052, all else remained same.
my guess at the problem: the mitsu MLS had been torqued before.
ive got about 10k on this thing since i rebuilt it last year. its been pounded daily, just about every day for the past year with 25-30 psi through the 3052. around 5k miles into it, i would start to loose coolant here and there. mainly after hard pulls, or heavy boost. had a cracked intercooler, couldnt make boost really, and the problem never occured again til the intercooler was fixed.
so heres where i stand: ive got this gorgeous stock bottom end that loves getting pummeled. id like to keep it, but im a little nervous about putting another MLS gasket it in it, and having it fail.
called up a reputable machine shop that does a decent amount of 4g63 work. spoke to a good personal friend there. he was explaining to me that o-ringing a cylinder head or block is best paired with a mitsu composite gasket. ive got a few problems with this...
#1: that composite gaskets going to hold up to all that boost, time and time again?
#2: what should i do when i cant use a mitsu composite, say on an engine thats bored more than .020?
#3: does anyone here have expierience with o-ring'ed cylinder heads or blocks?
#4: is it a good idea to o-ring either head or block, then use an MLS gasket?
question 2 applies to my stroker engine that im building. id like to push some dumb boost with that, but again, im worried on sealing issues. i also cant put a factory sized gasket in there, as its already punched out to .030.
please leave some good input here. also, this isnt a cost vs. cost thing. im more interested in results. i dont care if gasket X is cheaper than gasket Y, i just would like to know what seals the best, period.
background (first mistake): bought a junkyard 6 bolt longblock from a friend, for cheap. longblock, manifolds, radiator, hoses, t/case and trans for $600. i dropped it all in, she ran great. at the time it was: 16g, 680s, VPC/GCC, and all supporting mods. 3 times around the neighborhood, started misfiring pretty bad. took it home, did some diag, found a burnt exhaust valve.
rebuild: honed block, new rings, new bearings, reused rods/pistons, polished the crank, head was machined with all new SS valves, new valve seals, new front case/BSEK, ARPs & a mitsu 4 layer. then swapped 16g with 3052, all else remained same.
my guess at the problem: the mitsu MLS had been torqued before.
ive got about 10k on this thing since i rebuilt it last year. its been pounded daily, just about every day for the past year with 25-30 psi through the 3052. around 5k miles into it, i would start to loose coolant here and there. mainly after hard pulls, or heavy boost. had a cracked intercooler, couldnt make boost really, and the problem never occured again til the intercooler was fixed.
so heres where i stand: ive got this gorgeous stock bottom end that loves getting pummeled. id like to keep it, but im a little nervous about putting another MLS gasket it in it, and having it fail.
called up a reputable machine shop that does a decent amount of 4g63 work. spoke to a good personal friend there. he was explaining to me that o-ringing a cylinder head or block is best paired with a mitsu composite gasket. ive got a few problems with this...
#1: that composite gaskets going to hold up to all that boost, time and time again?
#2: what should i do when i cant use a mitsu composite, say on an engine thats bored more than .020?
#3: does anyone here have expierience with o-ring'ed cylinder heads or blocks?
#4: is it a good idea to o-ring either head or block, then use an MLS gasket?
question 2 applies to my stroker engine that im building. id like to push some dumb boost with that, but again, im worried on sealing issues. i also cant put a factory sized gasket in there, as its already punched out to .030.
please leave some good input here. also, this isnt a cost vs. cost thing. im more interested in results. i dont care if gasket X is cheaper than gasket Y, i just would like to know what seals the best, period.