svtwhat?

iTrader: (17)

I had a lifter fail and had to pull the drivers side head off my engine. The combo has only been together 1200 miles. I have cometic .040 compressed MLS gaskets. Has anybody reused the old head gasket or is it not a good idea? Ive heard they are reusable.

Anyone that has re-used them what are the procedures for cleaning them off and what did you clean them off with? I installed them dry when i first put them on but would a copper sealant be a good idea?

Thanks in advance

Randy

garygnu

Do not reuse a used gasket!!!!!!!!!!bad idea !!!!!!

Always2Slow

iTrader: (8)

Only special gaskets are reusable.

WKMCD

iTrader: (2)

Some people reuse them. I always replaced them even at 1200 miles. It's not work the hassle to do it all again if they don't seal.

texas twister

need new head bolts also

SSPerformance

iTrader: (76)

i have reused them befor i just spary them with some copper spray and there good to go

lavoy

iTrader: (2)

i prefer to spray them with hylomar rather then copper, hylomar is actually meant for this. get the spray can not the tube.

disc0monkey

iTrader: (10)

omg here we go again...

yeah ive reused them on n20 motors with thousands of miles on the gaskets before and after the point of reuse. no problem

brngrhd

we reused them in our 900hp n/a big block 15:1 compression.......

svtwhat?

iTrader: (17)

arp's

just bought a new one... i dont feel like doing this twice IF it diddnt work for me

blsnelling

iTrader: (4)

I thought Cometics were intended to be used, no?

ky_black_ss

iTrader: (7)

I would never reuse head gaskets

disc0monkey

iTrader: (10)

have you blown one by reusing it? and if you have how much psi or how big of a shot.

pwrtrip75

iTrader: (8)

I reused the stock GM ones on my 6.0 turbo motor. Cleaned them off and sprayed them with copper spray. Its holding 15psi with out an issue. Obviously you can do it and it will work.

Anyone against this that hasnt had one blow out is clueless.

ky_black_ss

iTrader: (7)

i have never blowed a head gasket on my race cars or street cars but i always put a new head gasket on every time once you intsall the head and take it back off the head gasket will be a different thickness and what is the point of reusing it where your that far down and it isnt much more for the head gaskets

brngrhd

how is the thickness going to change? compressed thickness is going to be the same it it the uncompressed that will change and that does not matter once the heads are torqued down.

ky_black_ss

iTrader: (7)

i just dont see the point on reusing the head gaskets

brngrhd

i see your point but it is like another $200 or so right? guess it depends on the application......

ky_black_ss

iTrader: (7)

True but if you spend all that money on the motor why not buy head gaskets again

disc0monkey

iTrader: (10)

because you don't need to. as long as you put the gasket on the way you took it off, imho, you throwing money away.

if it makes you sleep at night do it, but there is no one here with wild n20 and boost setups blowing their reused gaskets.

a simple 11:1 n/a should have no problems.

racers have been reusing head gaskets for years. the clamping design on the LS1 plus the quality of the MLS, it is more than up to the task.