O-ringed heads: Gasket alignment
#1
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
ALright, I am getting sort of worried with the situation I have. I have a set of 6l TEA heads. THey have been o-ringed. Where is proper placement of the o-ring on the head gasket?
When placing the 6l graphite gasket on the head sealing surface, the o-ring is right under the fire ring of the gasket. At some points, it looks like the o-ring is even on the inside edge of the fire ring.
Maybe I am just confused about how o-rings work. I thought they were supposed to be just on the outside edge of the fire ring in the gasket? It looks as though the o-rings will cause the head to sit off the surface of the gasket.
When placing the 6l graphite gasket on the head sealing surface, the o-ring is right under the fire ring of the gasket. At some points, it looks like the o-ring is even on the inside edge of the fire ring.
Maybe I am just confused about how o-rings work. I thought they were supposed to be just on the outside edge of the fire ring in the gasket? It looks as though the o-rings will cause the head to sit off the surface of the gasket.
Last edited by xssive; 01-27-2005 at 11:42 PM.
#2
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
ALright, I am getting sort of worried with the situation I have. I have a set of 6l TEA heads. THey have been o-ringed. Where is proper placement of the o-ring on the head gasket?
When placing the 6l graphite gasket on the head sealing surface, the o-ring is right under the fire ring of the gasket. At some points, it looks like the o-ring is even on the inside edge of the fire ring.
Maybe I am just confused about how o-rings work. I thought they were supposed to be just on the outside edge of the fire ring in the gasket? It looks as though the o-rings will cause the head to sit off the surface of the gasket (see gap in picture)
![](https://webspace.utexas.edu/xssive/102_0295.JPG)
__________________
When placing the 6l graphite gasket on the head sealing surface, the o-ring is right under the fire ring of the gasket. At some points, it looks like the o-ring is even on the inside edge of the fire ring.
Maybe I am just confused about how o-rings work. I thought they were supposed to be just on the outside edge of the fire ring in the gasket? It looks as though the o-rings will cause the head to sit off the surface of the gasket (see gap in picture)
__________________
#4
Coal Mining Director
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 4,442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
In a perfect world the o-ring should indent the center of the steel firing ring to seal it when it is torqued down. Not all graphite gaskets have the same location of the firing ring. You may have to check a few different sets to get the o-ring centered in the firing ring. Worst case, the o-ring should indent the firing ring somewhere and not miss it on the inside or outside or it will not seal. Did TEA change the o-ring diameter?
#7
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Nope, TEA kept the o-ring diameter as it was. I am under the impession that the o-ring should be on the outside edge of the fire ring completely, thereby indenting into the graphite part of the gasket...? Is the o-ring actually supposed to be compressed into the fire-ring itself? I dont see how the rest of the head would seal if the o-ring is biting into the metal of the fire ring itself.
Trending Topics
#8
Coal Mining Director
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 4,442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A year ago TEA told me it should indent into the center of the o-ring and that when you torqued it down it would embed. PM Kurt at W To W and Brian at TEA as both have used that set-up.
#9
Coal Mining Director
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 4,442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I also thought about using Flatout rubber coated copper gaskets and talked to them about the o-ring. Their tech told me the same thing. Give them a call for another opinion.
#11
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
That gasket is what it takes. The O-ring seals into the fire ring on the gasket not inside the fire ring. The gasket will seal to the head surface no problem.