Spinkderby

I'm a scooby newbie and I'm currently building up my first engine and im really struggling with head gaskets I'm using a v7 sti short block and v6 sti heads nothing has been skimmed it's all stock but I'm wanting to run 380 to 400 hp will standard gaskets with stronger head studs cope with this power or will I need to skim the heads and upgrade to thicker gaskets?

rickybobby

0.78mm RCM/Cosworth Gaskets, 11mm ARP headstuds will do the job

Advanced automotives will have what you need

Spinkderby

thanks for the response really appreciate it so I'm right in saying with 0.78mm head gaskets I won't need to skim the heads? This has been driving me crazy all week haha

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Am I right in thinking you should consider what boost levels you will be running when choosing the thickness of the hg?
If running higher boost then would a thicker gasket 1.0mm or 1.1mm be better?

I'm considering a v7 shortblock but with v3 heads in the future so interested.

rickybobby

Headgasket thickness is more to do with compression ratio than boost level.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

With a thinner hg would you get a higher cr?
Would a higher boost level on a high compression engine be a bad thing or wouldn't it matter?

gazzawrx

iTrader: (11)

Id be skimming the heads anyway for piece of mind, then id fit a 1mm gasket. Running lower cr will enable you to run a bit more boost.

markb_s1

But will also compromise off boost performance won't it?

gazzawrx

iTrader: (11)

Yeah itll possibly make it a bit more laggy till the boost kicks in, but if you keep it up in the rev band then it wont really make any odds, youll probably only notice it when pulling away from standstill.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Is there much performance when off the turbo?

AS Performance

iTrader: (4)

earlier >98 cars need a bit more thought gasket wise if planning on using a 99> short engine due to the differences in piston / combustion chamber design........

for a 'matched" late car, unless the heads have had large chunks machined off them (unlikely) then its poor advice IMO to use 1.1mm.......

for the OP then as previously mentioned an uprated 0.78mm gasket and decent head studs will cope at 400 no issue and we carry all on the shelf at attractive costs

0191-4103770