reaper97

im in the process of a budget 355 build from Ai but not sure which kind of head gasket to use...any suggestions will help and part# thanks, mike

z_speedfreak

iTrader: (3)

im running impala gaskets to bump my c/r to 11:1, dont know the pn sorry..
what's your head set up going to be? what c/r are you shooting for?

SoxXpupPeT

iTrader: (34)

fel pro MRG-5716's get them through summit. when i take .030 off my heads lloyd said ill be around 11.2/11.4 :1

Low N Slow

iTrader: (4)

Didn't Ron recommend head gaskets? He recommended Impala gaskets and a certain deck height to get the right compression ratio for the heads and cam I bought.

$O$OE

iTrader: (14)

x2 and u can just pick up the head gasket at auto zone for the impala motors..i think...

reaper97

im just running the stock heads right now i have plans later down the road to get my heads done by llyod Elliot..but its not in the budget...my block is getting bored .30 over just trying to find the correct gasket i dont have a certain compression in mind but i would like to bump it up maybe 11:1 or so.

reaper97

anyone?

93 black t/a

run the MRG-5716's. that should put you right where you wanna be. assuming the block hasn't been decked.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Don't overthink the process. If all you're interested in is rebuilding to stock using stock heads, use the stock head gasket.

If you want a few extra ponies and a few more tenths compression, use the thinner Impala head gasket. End of story.

James Montigny

iTrader: (13)

Assuming a stock deck and reasonable chamber sized, I agree.

If however, you are taking the opportunity to deck the block, select proper pistons and optimize quench,
gasket thickness does become a slightly more important issue.
The cam design and fuel section will dictate an optimal compression ratios.
From there, you can decide what Pistons, chamber sizes and gaskets you want to run.

Higher CR is not always better.
Exactly, talk to your H/C designer.

za355tx

iTrader: (108)

Mr. G 5716 all the way. Compression is your friend.

myltwon

iTrader: (1)

what piston are you running?

is the block decked?

are the heads milled?

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I think James is the ONLY one to reply sofar with an intelligent post.
People attributing part numbers to the wrong brand, not asking the right questions or anything.

Here is how I would break it down.

If you are leaving the deck height stock or at least .010 down then the Mr. Gasket 5716(NOT FELPRO) at .026 that is also sold under Victor Rienz brand, or the stock Impala gasket at .029 would be a good choice.

If you are zero decking it then the FelPro gasket at .039 is a good choice.

If the piston is sticking up beyond the deck a little then the stock .049 gasket would be a good choice.

Combine this with the AI 190cc budget heads and cam package and you will have a nice motor.

za355tx

iTrader: (108)

If you ask Lloyd what the optimum quench is he will tell you .031. Which means having a piston that is .005 in the hole and a .026 gasket. That's of course for his high compression work with a pretty good sized cam. So that being said if you zero deck it and use a felpro 1074 you're still over that number. Not saying it wouldn't work and work well though. Just saying.

za355tx

iTrader: (108)

Oh and I don't think James is the only one who has made sense. Personally caprice I don't think you made much sense. Not one person in this thread said it was a FELPRO 5716. Oh and here's another idea, if you haven't already decked it tell them to put the piston .005 in the hole and match all the corners. Not every corner of the block is going to be the exact same deck height. If you do that you can get your quench to .031 and have the heads worked and milled accordingly to get the compression you want. But compression is the key. Your car will sound more crisp, have more power, and you will be happier.

No higher compression is not ALWAYS better but most of the time it is. Even though I am one of the people 96caprice who you said didn't have anything that helped...you are right about the cam dictating the compression. The bigger cam you use the higher your compression can be. For example I know a few guys running Lloyd's stuff with about 12 to 1 compression with healthy cams and the cars run great. But if you are planning a smaller cam like similar to a 503 maybe 11 to 1 will do you just fine. It's all relative to what you plan on doing camwise and how much power you want to make.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

Reading is fundamental.

Block will be the same deck height IF you have it propely machined, but most of you are incapable of understanding quality and will use "billybobs machine and bait" rather than a good shop.

Called square decking, not only removes material from the deck but trues it to the crank.

za355tx

iTrader: (108)

Sorry I read the part where it says MRG 5716. And Like I said before tell whoever is working on the block to put the pistons .005 in the whole and use a .026 gasket, get your quench right the first time. That's all you need to say.

And why would you come on here and basically call everyone stupid??? Personally I took my motor to Wayne Calverts in Denton, Texas. He's been racing and building motors for over 50 years and has nowone but the best working for him. So you can keep me off your little list of people who go to Billy Bob's machine and bait.