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Head Gasket thickness.....

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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 09:29 PM
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Default Head Gasket thickness.....

OK, I've got a 5.3 torn down on the stand getting ready to put it back together. I am having trouble deciding what to do for head gaskets. Pat G spec'd my cam after sending my info to him and suggested .040 gaskets. I planned on using the GM MLS gaskets but they are .054. Is there any harm in too much clearance? My heads were port/polished with .010 mill for surfacing.

I am afraid to just throw .040's on there and not check PTV clearance, but I don't want to buy a set of gaskets just to check PTVc. Suggestions?

Here is Pat G's suggestion:

Static/Dynamic compression with new cam: 10.0:1, 8.02:1
Recommended pushrod length: 7.400” with .040” gasket and .010” mill.
Recommended valve springs: PAC 1518, Comp 26918 beehive, Patriot Gold dual.
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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 09:32 PM
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With the .040 gaskets you should check your clearance, thats a tight quench. The .054's arent going to do anything detremental. If PatG spec'd the cam and recommended the .040 gaskets, then I would check back with him. That cam might need/want the added compression bump.
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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by TransAmcoupe98
With the .040 gaskets you should check your clearance, thats a tight quench. The .054's arent going to do anything detremental. If PatG spec'd the cam and recommended the .040 gaskets, then I would check back with him. That cam might need/want the added compression bump.
Yeah, that's the main thing I was worried about running that thin of a gasket. Didn't consider the compression factor though. I will send Pat an email. Thanks!
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 10:44 AM
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Ok, here is Pat's response....

"The .040" gasket was to raise your compression 0.3 (three tenths) of a point. You can certainly run the stock gasket if you like. You will have adequate P to V clearance either way."

Will I notice .3 of a point in compression if I go with the .054 just to be extra safe?
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 10:55 AM
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im guessing u told him u wanted to go mild with this setup. .040 thickness will not hurt at all. ur compression is only 10.0:1. im running a 224 cam with 5.3 liter heads milled at 59 cc's with cometic .040 head gaskets. and im running fine. u should be ok if ur setup is less than me
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 11:29 AM
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check the PTV clearance with out the gasket and add .040 to it
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 05:38 PM
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Originally Posted by bigpat501
check the PTV clearance with out the gasket and add .040 to it
This is what I would do too.
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Old Feb 10, 2013 | 10:08 PM
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i know a tad aged lol not older then most threads i dig up lol but
was wondering about 317 heads and a cometic .040 x 4.010 gasket on a 5.7L. i plan on boost but wanted to make sure i dont go too far down in Cr to not loose alot of low end torque. the calculator give me about 9.9:1 CR (damn near 10 if you round it)
Im plannign on getting a 226R tick stage 1 cam so i just wanted to make sure everyhting is kosher lol
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