LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Head Gasket

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Old 06-09-2006, 10:41 AM
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Default Head Gasket

I have to change my Head Gaskets when I get back. I am wondering if anyone has done this, did you pop out the part of the Head Gasket that is on the Coolant passages between the Block and the Head. I am looking at some Gaskets, and it just shows a little hole there, nothing close to the size of the passage. I plan on poppong them out, cause if you leave the Gasket material there, the Hot Antifreeze will eat right through it.
Old 06-09-2006, 02:20 PM
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Leave the gasket alone.
Old 06-09-2006, 03:41 PM
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Ok. So the coolant won't eat through it, and what's the purpose of having that little hole, keep coolant flowing through the Head.
Old 06-09-2006, 05:08 PM
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If you open those up coolant will flow through the front most ones at high rate and there be little left for the rear. The holes are large so they can be near the cylinders they need to cool, the hole in the gasket restricts the flow to a reasonable amount and forces coolant further back the head.
Old 06-10-2006, 01:10 AM
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Seems like you would want to open the back more, and close the front more if anything.. cool.
Old 06-10-2006, 12:32 PM
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they did that purposely to even out the cylinder temps. my felpro 1074's came with a note that actually pointed this difference out between these and stock gaskets. I wouldnt suggest f*cking with something thats been reverse engineered, they've obviously done the research already and proven thier point. They are restricting flow through that hole in an attempt to create a more even temp. across every cylinder.
Old 06-10-2006, 01:28 PM
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I am getting the 1074's. How they working out for you so far?
Old 06-10-2006, 04:14 PM
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If you haven't ordered yet consider the Mr Gasket 5716 at .026 it will bump compression a bit which should help lowend some. Stock was .049 Felpro is .039
Old 06-11-2006, 02:25 AM
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That's a thin Gasket, sounds like it will cook quick.. I cooked mine somehow, I am still trying to figure out how mine went. Blew at under 200 degrees. Then again it was the #7 Cylinder, that is a little hotter than the front where the Temp Sensor is.
Old 06-11-2006, 11:17 AM
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The thicker a gasket is the more pressure/heat it will be subject too due to the increased surface area.
The f-bodies got the .049 gasket stock the b-bodies got iron heads and a .029 gasket stock. Gasket failures on the f-bodies seem to be almost routine at higher milage, b-bodies on average see more miles because more a daily drivers and many were police cars and such and baring SEVERE overheating I can only think of maybe one case of a random blown head gasket on the b-body boards.
Now I will admit that this is also iron vs. aluminum and I doubt if the construction of the two gaskets being compared is the same, I just mean to say thin does not mean weak or bad, it just means thin.

I only have maybe 2K on it sofar but I am currently running 11.5:1 with the Mr. Gaskets and having no issues. They are one of the more popular gaskets for the LT1 specifically because they are thin and can help us boost compression which is key to making bigger cams drive well.
Old 06-11-2006, 12:39 PM
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I have to get it apart and figure out why it blew in the first place. It started misfiring taking off from a stop, normal driving. I was running at 195 degrees cause I looked at that first thing. Then I thought it was the Trans slipping, but then it went away, came back, and 5 minutes later when I started it after putting gas in it, I could smell it, and a big cloud of white smoke puffed out. I hope the Heads aren't warped, being Aluminum, but it didn't blow at a hot temp. I am going with the Felpro 1074, it was recommended to me buy a couple of guys that run them constantly in races.



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