bye bye head gaskets

[TURBOELKY]

as some of you know, I blew my head gasket today. I have to say it was awesome! I boosted 25 psi on pump gas and xylene, and the vaccume line jumped off the boost gauge t under the hood, big bang! got back to the dyno store, put it back on,went to adjust down the boost, and the eyelet on the actuator broke off I drove home, turboless, and picked up another. I was on the way back, boosted 20 psi when I was about to pick on a new roush disgustang and BOOMMMMM!!! passenger side head gasket shot out and spewed all the water out. It was the coolest thing I've ever had happen to an engine. I've cracked 350's down the middle of bores, cracked a camel hump head, but never shot out a head gasket what kind of gaskets should I replace them with? I was running felpro's, dont care for copper much, what else is there? When I get it back running, I play on running 20-25 psi on pump and additive. Bye the way, I had no knock when the head gasket blew, only a big bang! so what kind of gaskets?

 

[SHADOWII]

You sure are taking

the experience well! :biggrin: I think the majority of us, usually react like Your best bet may be to do a search and get the opininons of those who have more experience w/the different styles. You will get a better understanding of the pro's and con's of each h/g.

 

[NJVetteGuy]

You hurt it when the FPR line blew off, just took a little more boost to finish it off, which is why you had no KR when it blew. I got my last engine from someone who blew the FPR line off, he thought he put a hole in the piston but it was just a blown HG. I was pleasantly surprised on that teardown, the rest of the engine was immaculate I use the Fel-Pro 9441, they're a good "fuse". I'd rather change head gaskets than pistons any day.

 

[norbs]

If you blow these your into big trouble:

RJC SST's

 

[TURBOELKY]

gaskets

I was using the felpro 9441's, but they can only take so much :smile: and the reason I took this like a champ is because I do all the building in the garage, so a head gasket will only cost me the price of the gaskets. But it was the vaccume line to the boost gauge that blew off 2 times, both times caused a back fire, the second time blew the gasket. The engine had never seen over 12-14 psi until last week, but i'm sure the gaskets were probably damaged from before when I had a fuel problem I didnt know about until I got a scanmaster. But by then I had driven the car around 2k miles knocking really bad, but never knew what an idiot I'll keep my mind open to head gaskets. Probably go back to the felpro 9441's, its not the head gaskets fault, its mine

 

[NJVetteGuy]

It's easier to change head gaskets than other parts. Something had to give, fortunately it was just inexpensive gaskets. If the gaskets were "indestructible" then you may have hurt something else...

 

[TURBOELKY]

Yup

thats exactly why I dont want to put some super indestructable gaskets back on because a pop like that would knock out a couple rod bearings, then I would be rebuilding the whole thing, thats if my head gasket is the only current problem

 

[carrddine]

I would put stockers back in...imo..I was wondering what happened to you on sat..you didnt come back to the dyno..call me 858-569-7727 work..im there every day my days off are thurs&fri...

 

[TURBOELKY]

thanks carrddine

for the offer, I'm planning on putting back in some more felpro's 9441's, I have to say, these gaskets took a beating because when I had a fuel problem, I didnt have a scanmaster. when I put in the scanmaster, I had up to 16 deg. of knock retard! I never new for 2k miles, and I always romped on the thing. When I put in the t66, the extra boost and back fires finished them off. I feel you need a gasket that will give if it has to since if it holds it in, you'll most likely damage something more than a gasket. Your welcome to hang out, its a long drive to the valley though, I'm off sunday monday though, and I'm planning on replacing them this coming weekend. Thats unless I decide to tear it down, and save up for a set of gn1 cast irons. I might do that, but I will still tear it down asap, to get the water out. I've also broken my share of engines, I'm at a crossroad now debating weather I should build a 4.1, or just fix gaskets. I'm kind of leaning towards 4.1, w/ good heads. I'll call you up later.

 

[Gary Wells]

Jeremy:
I have to say that you are really taking this standing up. I wish sometimes that I had your attitude/outlook on things like this. Ask me sometime about my experiences with a stock chip, a 12K original mile virgin turbo Buick, a freeway ramp, 1 deaf ear, 1 lame ear, and a passenger side head gasket. hang in there on the Elko, dude.

 

[TURBOELKY]

thanks Gary

well, what else can you do? if you get mad you loose, if I had to pay somebody to replace a head gasket, then I would loose like I replied to carrddine, I'm in the air about putting together a 4.1, or buying a pair of cast iron gn1's, I've felt what 25 psi feels like, and I liked it! I'd like to build something that would handle 30 psi w/ alky, so you might see another long block for sale along with the virgin long block I have posted for sale also we'll see. talk later Gary, and oh yeah, those numbers on the dyno looked good, i'm sure you were happy with them.

 

[carrddine]

turboelky,like I said I would just put the stockers back in anything other than the stockers you will/should pull the motor for,because with cometic,sshead gaskets,they are a pain in the a** to get to seal with out leaking. As gary knows I blew my h.g. racing ray on the way to the donut shop...it happens to all of us.. B.T.W I took it well also, as what else can ya do? but on the 4.1 issue you will be surprised what performance you can get from what you already have..just my 02..

 

[TURBOELKY]

Gaskets

do you really think stock head gaskets would hold up to what I have to throw at them? I know for sure I dont want copper, I do like the felpro's 9441's since they did hold up to 2k miles of up to 16 deg knock ret., my buddy actually has a set at his house I could probably convince him to hand em over you sound like your stuck on the stock gaskets and their performance, are they really that good? thanks for your .02

 

[norbs]

If you don't go with the stainless headgaskets, you'r basically wasting your time putting stockers back on, but its up to you. I have a wall of those 9441 gaskets blown, like nothing.

 

[TURBOELKY]

Well

Like i've posted before, if the gasket holds up to a back fire at 25psi, then its going to crack a head, or a piston, or the block. I'd rather unbolt a manifold and heads, rathern than build a complete engine.

 

[Raymond Bunch]

Turboelky

Like i've posted before, if the gasket holds up to a back fire at 25psi, then its going to crack a head, or a piston, or the block. I'd rather unbolt a manifold and heads, rathern than build a complete engine.

I like the way you think, keep the stockers....9441PT's. They do give you that buffer zone to prevent even bigger damage to the engine. Also, you left just before I got to dyno, it was a last minute decision. Needless to say with a crap load of boost and shutting it down early it netted 579 RWHP / 526 TQ. This was with a half tank of 91, 5 gallons of 101 and methanol, on the first pull without any adjustments. So these gaskets do hold up if everything is in order, I will never use anything else except them to be honest. BTW, thanks Neal Good luck on getting it back together man.

Ray

 

[carrddine]

Well

Im not the only crazy one,im sure some of the other gooroos of turbo buick would agree with me,besides I personally like having a weak link in my car so that I am not having to buy new blocks, heads,pistons,cranks...you get the picture..and Norbs if you have blown that many h.gs..I think you are doing something wrong I know people going into the 10s that are still using stockers...Its no mystery why the h.gs blow..we all know why.......