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Should I bother worrying about .010" diff (head gaskets)

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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 11:53 AM
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Default Should I bother worrying about .010" diff (head gaskets)

I posted this in the regular LS1 section, but perhaps I'll get a better answer in here?

My heads are on there way here and I'm holding off on head gaskets to check P to V and make final gasket selection based on that clearence to maximize my quench.

Well here's were I'm at;
The heads are 62cc 5.3 heads with 2.02" intake and stock dia exhaust Manley pro-flo valves. The cam is an F14 so things are going to be tight. I can get a set of stock MLS gaskets (still be checking P to V) and be ready to assemble or I can wait until I measure and then order gaskets...possibly being able to go with a thinner Cometic or Fel-Pro?

I was shooting for 11:1 CR and if I use This calculator I come up with 11.3:1 with .054" gasket. If I use This calc I get 10.8-10.9:1.

I'm not as conerned with CR as I am with quench. All these numbers look good on paper, but what is the reality of performance gains versus the extra headache I'm creating?

I'm really thinking about just getting a set of MLS gaskets and not make things more difficult than need be.


What are some opinions of the group here?
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 09:53 PM
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What is the deck height of your pistons?
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 10:52 PM
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.010 is a big difference when talking about head gasket thickness and PTV clearance.

Don't use that second calculator because it does not take in consideration the actual deck height of a Gen III engine which is usually a negative number between -.007 and -.010. I found this one to be the most accurate.

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/compstaticcalc.html
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DrkPhx
.010 is a big difference when talking about head gasket thickness and PTV clearance.

Don't use that second calculator because it does not take in consideration the actual deck height of a Gen III engine which is usually a negative number between -.007 and -.010. I found this one to be the most accurate.

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/compstaticcalc.html
Yeah, the second one I added the volmetric displacment of the piston out of hole as a piston dome.

I guess it all boils down to NO SHORTCUTS. If I'm going to the trouble of doing it I might as well do it right.

Maybe I can buy a set of .045" gaskets and a set of OEMs so I can keep working. Whichever ones I don't use I can sell in the for sale forum.

My basis is that Allan Futral told me I could run an F14 on 5.3 as long as I didn't mill them more than .010" MAX! We milled them .007" so I'm thinking the chances of getting away with a .040" gasket are very slim (pardon the pun). It will depend alot on the valve job and how deep the seats which brings me right back were I started...won't know until I measure.

I'm also not sure if the heads are 98 style with the notch which makes all this moot as they'll require MLS gaskets anyway. I know they're center bolt pattern. They should be here in 5-7 days.
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 09:53 AM
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.010" difference in head gaskits will cause 2cc difference in the combustion chamber in your heads.
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Old Apr 13, 2006 | 02:38 PM
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I agree with you guys, but I'm still wondering about my clearence. I've got 5.3 heads milled .007" so that's a valve drop of .037" over stock already. Could you run heads milled .037" with an .600" lift cam and a .040"-.045" gasket?

I know, measure and find out.
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