Head gasket stuff

[L8 APEX]

I am working on the second Lightning I have seen loose a head gasket. Both were JDM built and sealed long blocks so there were no variations in assembly techniques. Knowing the way both trucks were run I started doing some research on head gaskets. Sean Hyland has a lot of mod motor experience up to the thousand plus HP realm. He states the limit for the OE style head gaskets is 20lbs of boost. Both of these failures saw over 20lbs of boost at one time or another. I am looking into other gaskets but these engines aren't exactly small block Chevys.. So far SHM has the only copper gasket on the market. Cometic is still a MLS OEM type gasket but claims to be better than stock. Now I understand why JDM and other tuners are telling folks to stay with the 3" upper and 9" lower pulleys for KB's. It looks like they are trying to stay under the 20psi mark. Here is a pic of a failed stock Ford MLS gasket.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG6933.JPG

[tiffo60]

did it hurt the block or the head at all?

[L8 APEX]

The head is fine and other than a touch of corrosion on the block it all looks good.

[L8 APEX]

Of course the bigger question is why are they using stock Ford head gaskets on ten thousand dollar racing engines... For 50 bucks more they could use a more reliable performance gasket.

[tiffo60]

im sure jim has some deal worked out with ford to where he gets them for a rediculously cheap price to maximize his profit margin:cool:

p.s. whats it matter since he wont warranty his motors anyhow

[wesman]

im sure jim has some deal worked out with ford to where he gets them for a rediculously cheap price to maximize his profit margin:cool:

p.s. whats it matter since he wont warranty his motors anyhow

or he get's them free....it's f'ing gay no matter how you look at it. There is not one solitary reason to use a stock head gasket in a built motor other than cost savings.....he charges a premium and gives you regular unleaded .....it's :bs and he needs to nut up and quit short changing customers.


--wes

[L8 APEX]

I called every name brand manufacturer I could on these head gaskets. Sean Hyland and JDM recommended stock gaskets for boost under 20psi. Nobody recommended copper for street use. I called Cometic and they were unsure of their products abilities. The rep at Fel Pro was the most helpful by a large margin. He told me they were the OE manuf for Ford and that their Performace MLS gasket was stronger than the OE Ford. We have been using Fel Pro's without failure but I feel a little better know that I have talked to the rep and know more of why they are better.

[charlie]

Terry ... Do you sell these gaskets now?
If not where do I get them?
Head gaskets are the only gasket I have not got yet, for my motor build.

Charlie

[L8 APEX]

You can get them from Summit or Jegs and maybe through local stores. It is a Fel Pro 1141L and 1141R.

[PoorSvtman]

are they using the 4 layer gaskets or the old 3 layers?

[TXLIGHTNING]

I was running cometics on a 347 stroker with a Vortech S-Trim in my 93 LX Mustang coupe. I was using them on AFR 185cc aluminum heads with 64cc combustion chambers and they never gave me any problems. I blew about 3 sets of felpros best gasket and tried many others with the same effect until I put those cometic gaskets on. They seem to be a good quality gasket. Just my 2 cents. :beer: