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I lifted a head on the dyno......

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Old 09-16-2004, 11:02 PM
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Default I lifted a head on the dyno......

Right at the 600 hp mark on the dyno I lifted a head on my engine. I have a iron block, ARP head studs, Cometic headgaskets, 10.5 compression ratio and use a healthy shot of nitrous. Do anybody know exactly what causes a head to lift and what can be done to prevent it from happening again?
Old 09-16-2004, 11:07 PM
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how much nitrous?
Old 09-16-2004, 11:23 PM
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180 at that time........
Old 09-16-2004, 11:29 PM
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That is why AFR have thicker decks.
Old 09-16-2004, 11:30 PM
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i just cant figure out why you lifted a head with that small of a shot. were the arp head studs properly torqued?
Old 09-16-2004, 11:36 PM
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Everything was machined properly, assembled properly, and torqued properly. The engine has about 12,000 miles on it. I was very surprised to see it happen on such a small shot and at a relatively low horsepower level. That's why I'm asking for help trying to figure out why and how to prevent it from happening again.
Old 09-16-2004, 11:39 PM
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what kind of heads? lol sorry for so many questions trying to figure it out
Old 09-16-2004, 11:48 PM
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The heads are the GMPP CNC LS6 heads. Trevor Johnson Cylinder Heads did a little more porting to them before they went on the car. Compression ratio was set at 10.5 to 1.
Old 09-17-2004, 12:44 AM
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I would say you have to much CR. The only way to realy pervent it from ever happening again is to pull the motor. O ring the block and heads. Are u 100% that the heads are not milled at all. I would bet you are closer to 11 to 1.
Old 09-17-2004, 01:19 AM
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yea LS6 heads come stock @ 10.6 : 1. dunno how you're at 10.5?
Old 09-17-2004, 01:31 AM
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Originally Posted by cyphur_traq
yea LS6 heads come stock @ 10.6 : 1. dunno how you're at 10.5?
Well a little bowl cleaning can do that easy
Old 09-17-2004, 01:35 AM
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Originally Posted by cyphur_traq
yea LS6 heads come stock @ 10.6 : 1. dunno how you're at 10.5?
the ls6 heads are 10.6 on the stock 3.90 bore. he's using a iron block with a 4.030 bore.

the GMPP heads also come in two versions; unmilled (70cc) and milled (62cc)

Last edited by jrp; 09-17-2004 at 01:44 AM.
Old 09-17-2004, 01:36 AM
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I hit my 408 with a 250 the other day on the dyno and it didnt lift ahead or phase anything.
Old 09-17-2004, 01:36 AM
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detonation from too much advance, too little fuel, or a combo of both.

What fuel were you using? Dry or wet shot? How much advance?

Details man!!
Old 09-17-2004, 01:43 AM
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I had the same issue with Cometics on my 1st dynoing of my SC setup (new motor, no detonation @ 8-9psi).

I swapped to GM MLS.
Cometics suck. This is my 2nd failure using them and I won't touch them again.

P.S. You could blame the deck of my old PP Heads. I switched to AFR's after the issue, but I believe the gaskets were to blame.
Old 09-17-2004, 01:51 AM
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I also run C16 in my seperate Nitrous fuel cell so tha tprobably helpe dme also.
Old 09-17-2004, 02:07 AM
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The heads were desined for 11:1 but we lowered it by using a custom thickness on the Cometic headgaskets. Timing is at 24 degrees...I do agree that we may be using too much timing. The nitrous system is a NX MAF wet kit. Fuel delivery and pressure doesn't seem to be an issue as I have an upgraded fuel system. On the dyno sheet, when the nitrous is activated the a/f ratio spikes to about 14.7 then quickly drops to 11.8 and is linear from there. Fuel was premium unleaded.
Old 09-17-2004, 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by jrp
the ls6 heads are 10.6 on the stock 3.90 bore. he's using a iron block with a 4.030 bore.

the GMPP heads also come in two versions; unmilled (70cc) and milled (62cc)
would the bigger bore only drop the CR .1 tho? i wasn't thinking right last nite, but even this morning thinking about it...still not gettin it. maybe i'm dense

EDIT: ok should've read his post before posting mine up:
Originally Posted by Gold Z
The heads were desined for 11:1 but we lowered it by using a custom thickness on the Cometic headgaskets.
that makes plenty of sense.
Old 09-17-2004, 10:29 AM
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By useing a thicker head gasket you killed the quench clearance,thereby making the motor more detonation sensative. You may have to pull more timing than others with the same compression on account of this.
Old 09-17-2004, 10:44 AM
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If you have the 62 cc ls6 heads you need to double check your CR also your cam will affect your cylinder pressure a lot!!The thicker gasket would mess up your quench as mentioned and the thicker gasket will be taken a harder hit then a thinner gasket.Also there has been an issue with the ARP studs needing to be torqued and losened 3 times.This could be a factor.On the cam if you are running a rather small duration cam this could cause problems with detonation,also you mention your af ratio went to 14.7 briefly right before the N.O. shot this could be a problem as well.Just some things you might check.Also do you have a good exhaust system??



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