Head Gasket

[Shane@DBPerformance]

I have seen a couple DSMs running stock headgasket with ARPs put a rod through the block before having total headgasket failure.

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

For a second I thought I was gonna get ripped again. Thanks for the explaination jakey, I haven't been on much today.

[Enes]

unfotunately... i myself also need a headgasket job now too :( This morning as i pulled into my parking spot at work, i come out puff smoking :(

[niterydr]

Bring it by enes, we'll do a leakdown test.

[slowbubblecar]

A headgasket is kind of like a fuse. It is better to blow out the headgasket than having one to strong and losing a rod or piston.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

Just don't overtorque the headstuds down to 100+ ft-lbs. A friend of mine a long time ago did his stocker to something stupid like 110 ft-lbs and a rod and piston came through the block before the headgasket blew when trying to run 28psi on pump gas tuning with an EGT gauge.

[rick shindley]

The machinists say to avoid using a metal HG UNLESS both the head and block have been machined flat to within 0.001". You don't know how flat the old block is in that car so putting a "machined" head on it with a metal HG would be foolish.

I agree with those that recommend using the stock HG as a "fuse". It works; well, on street cars, anyway! The BIG TIME people do other things to keep the heads on top of the blocks!

Rick