I was wondering if you guys can help me out. I got a 12 valve at the machine shop right now. Got a brand new head and got the block decked. We have ARP studs but I don't want to o-ring the head. What is the best headgasket to run with headstuds shooting to hold 45psi of boost from a HTT 62/71/13SS?? Thanks...

 

.020 gasket.
Thet come in 3 different sizes. Stock, .010 over and .020 over.
Thing is, you need to get the same amount of metal shaved off the head so you dont drop your compression ratio. It will start and run good, it just makes it smokey when starting cold.

 

Any special head gasket. Stock, marine, etc??? The head is a new stock head and the block was decked to clean it up. He never told me yet how much he took off?

 

Anyone else got any ideas? Getting close to throw the head on.

 

I talked to a fellow a while back who worked at Toxic Diesel in Utah and he swore by a multi layered steel gasket.

 

Are you talking 3rd gen gasket??

 

There are companies making MLS gaskets for our trucks, but going off of posts from this board, users have been having mixed results with them. It appears that the general trend is for them to leak coolant or oil between the steel layers.

Honestly if you are shooting for holding 45 lbs you should be just fine with studs, a stock Cummins gasket, and the occasional retorque. About 3 years ago when mine blew I talked to Schied about options and they told me their pulling truck used a stock Cummins gasket with stock bolts that were retorqued often (I assume they replaced them occasionally though).

As far as marine vs. standard gasket I don't know the difference between the two and the Cummins parts guy didn't either. Either one combined with studs will hold you safely at 45 psi.

 

Reading all the posts on here about the MLS gaskets lead me to believe they were a poor choice period. Thanks man...

 

Ive heard good things about a .020 over marine gasket. even if you didnt take a full .020 off your head, the compression drop shouldnt be that noticeable.

 

Why not ?

 

There is no more "marine" gasket.
Cummins makes all the gaskets the marine version so there is only one style.