Have come across minimal posts regarding O ringing on new models.
I also understand many trucks making big power and running high boost are leaning on the stock gaskets and a set of studs.
My question if one would like not to worry about head gaskets will this be the thing to do?
Do rings last for years?
Does this cost a tonne of money...

Thanks
onetun

 

Unless your pushing high boost numbers the CR headgaskets hold well with studs. I think it's in the neighborhood of 55-60psi on a stock gasket with studs. It also depends on if your shooting nitrous or water/meth.

 

It costs a good deal. I looked into it (even though there is no way I can afford it right now) until someone said on here that it was unnessasary due to the gasket that the 3rd gens have. I got the notion that the gasket was good enough and that o-ringing was mostly for twelve valves. Go to ATSperformance.com. To O-ring a head isn't cheap due to the machining involved.

 

With stock compression, 33 degrees of timing advance and water meth. My headgasket held to 90psi of drive pressure until I crossed the mythical 1700degree mark using stock studs that probably should have been retorqued a 4th time. I think if you are dilligent with the torquing and using the super ARP's or A-1's you can hold 100psi with about 25 degrees of timing, no meth, and keeping the EGT's below 1400. I'm banking on it this year. unless someone has some oversized MLS gaskets that will take an O-ring, I'll stick with the strongest studs and the stock thick gasket. Fireringing is the best if done perfect and if you plan to take your head on and off for maintenance once a year or more. KS

 

How do you know how many degrees of timing you are running on a CR motor? To the best of my knowledge VP and CR pumps have variable timing, and the CR's also have variable duration of the injection cycle correct?

Why would fireringing result in the need to take your head off once a year? My good buddy has had a set of firerings in his 12v for almost 2 years now with ZERO problems. I have about 2 months on mine with about 3,000 miles or so and no problems so far. Joe Hellmann told me when done right firerings are as safe and reliable as a stock gasket on a stock truck, he has been doing this stuff for a while too...

I'm not saying your wrong by any means but what are you basing your statement on?

 

The 33 degrees of timing was based on having Smarty about 15 degrees of advance, and TST set to 18 degrees of timing advance. Both of these are variable timing advance by changing the primary injection of diesel.

I don't know anyone with firerings who hasn't taken their head off at least once a year. Once you go with firerings then you are stuck with a non-MLS gasket to retain the coolant. There must be a reason shops like Haisleys offer 4 or 5 different sizes of firerings...when the first ones go out you have to cut new grooves farther out. If you aren't running more than 60psi at high EGT's with lots of timing the stock gasket has been shown to last very well.

Just sharing what I know....In theory firerings should last forever ....they are steel alloy....but then again so should everything made of steel and they don't. Nothing is forever, except Promises. KS

 

Some have luck with just studs some dont. Mine held till about 775hp, I have now O ringed my 06 and am doing my 04. The cost really depends if you can pull and reinstall your head yourself. I usually end up having between 600 and a grand in a cr head depends what all you have done. O ringing itself is about $300. Tim

 

Tim, how long do the rings last before they need changed?

 

I am hoping for the life of the engine. I do a retorque once in a while but once you get them bedded down good I think maybe every 6 mos or so should suffice. To early to tell for sure yet, I will let you know if I have issues. I have done several cr trucks and they are starting to rack up some miles with no problems. Tim

 

hey tim do you know what size and diameter groove they cut in your head and the wire size i have a engine guy that will do mine pretty cheap. my dad has been dealing with him for 30 years

 

We use .041 wire and leave it .010 proud. I believe we put .003 interference on the wire and use a aluminum plate and bolts and nuts to press the wire in even. Tim