Hey guys, no matter what anyone tells you dont believe them when they say that a stock headed 12v will take 55-60lbs all day. On about my 5 or 6th time going to full boost I popped the head gasket.

My question to the experienced out there is this: I plan to put ARP studs in this time but no O-rings. What thickness head gasket would you recommend and will just the studs be good enough for 60lbs?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

 

It's not just high boost that pops the HG, high timing will do it even more than boost.
Advancing the timing increases cylinder pressures quite a bit with every degree over stock timing.

 

Yes sir I agree. I am only at 17 degrees or so and I have twins so I figure my drive pressure should be relatively low.

Thanks, keep um coming..

 

Some gaskets are good for more than others, seems like luck of the draw.

If you are running high boost, a thicker gasket will help since it will lower compression. It just won't want to start as nice, and I hear torque and power are down for the same fuel/boost. But you can run more of it. For the price of 5 or 6 popped head gaskets, it would have been cheaper to get it o-ringed so its no longer an issue.

 

orings are costing me 250....but Im only doing it cause its apart. I ve been at 60 psi (17 degrees and twins) for about 3 years and 40k miles. When it came apart, the head gasket was still perfect on stock head bolts , never even retorqued.

I d go to a .010 gasket with stock pistons.

 

Great, thanks...

 

Apparently a big factor is what temp your engine is at when you put your foot in it. If its fully warmed up supposedly its a lot safer than 5min from your driveway and 140F.
Im staying under 50 until I get orings and studs on.

 

Oring the head and use the bolts