Guys

seein that my head gasket went kaput and i dont want to keep putting fluid in the truck every four or five days, (i go by temp gauge) i have ordered some ARP studs, I will bottom tap the block and do the studs properly (have them done properly most likely, time is an issue right now)

then comes teh dillema, which head gasket and why? i know that the .010 over has been tried and true, but i have not heard so much of the .020 over gasket. Is it just overkill for most applications? Or why is it not used as often? I want to take the head off once and do it right, I will probably send it to get o ringed while its off as well (I will be in customs training while this is bein done most probably)

My wants for teh truck are good towing manners, the occasional romp and dyno pull, and for it just to hold if i get crazy once in a while. NOrmally im pretty timid on the truck, probably why my stock HG lasted as long as it did, I just need some feedback and experience..

Thanks guys!

Rick

 

alot of how thick you should go depends on how much your head needs to be shaved to make it true. Mine was true so orings and a 10 over is what went back in. If any needed to be taken off I would have went with a 20 over.

Lowers compession/cylinder press up to 1 point for happier headgasket life down the road.

 

I would run the .020 over regardless...you don't have to worry about cold starts, and the lower compression can't hurt with the twins' bosts, and won't hurt the power!

JMHO,
Chris

 

But it does affect power on the very bottom end. I did a .020 at first, and changed to a .010 when the freeze plugs blew and I installed a new head.(not related)

Ron

 

How much did it affect it Ron?? Slightly or major? Maybe the .020 wouldn't be a good idea for you Rick, since you tow some!

Chris

 

When i changed the cam, it helped the bottom end. When i went to the ported head and .020 over gasket is set me back to slower than before the cam. I changed head and gasket and got part of it back. I have read before what the compression ratio change is between stock and .020 over. I don't recall the numbers.

 

Good to know...I wouldn't think it would make that big of difference!

Chris

 

can u just do studs and a marine gasket with no shaving

 

Sure you can...but if your head isn't flat, you'll be doing it again! Prep work is the key to having a head gasket that holds It's gotta be flat, in every direction, and that usually (almost always) requires decking the head!

That's one disadvantage to an inline 6 with one head...it's easily warped because it's so long

Chris

 

i started with a .20 over and it lasted about 2 days (didn't re-tourque). i've been running a .10 over for about 1.5 years now with only one re-tourque. my suggestion is while the heads off to have it re-decked and find someone to port it. or spend the $125 for all the tools and port it yourself. I just spent two days porting the ATS and lost about 75 degrees on crusing temps.

 

How moded are you there's nothing in your sig if your fueled fairly heavy you might wanna go with a .020 over gasket and get your head decked, it'll help drop the cylinder pressures if your running alot of fuel. Thats what im running with ARP studs and o rings