Heads/Cam Question.....Help me out
Heads/Cam Question.....Help me out I have ported LS6 heads and a 233/239 rev 2 cam I am putting in my car in about 3 weeks, my question is I have stock size MLS head gaskets and my heads will be milled from 64cc to 62cc, should I just go with thinner gaskets and leave the heads alone or have them milled and keep the stock gaskets??? Which is better and why?
Going with a thinner gasket will give you a smaller quench which is benificial in controlling detonation. Going from stock MLS to a .040 gasket is going to gain you a little over half a point on your compression ratio though, which is a little more than you would gain with a 2cc head shave. However, it will give you a very good quench distance.
The downside to milling the head is that you lose more PTV clearance because you have to mill .007 per CC instead of the .005 per CC that you get with a thinner gasket or deck mill. With the cam you have you're going to be close on your PTVC, so take that into consideration. Milling 2cc will only cost you .014" in clearance though, so you will likely be fine either way.
I would recommend the thinner gasket over the head mill every time. In this case you will lose a little more clearance going with a .040 gasket, but it will give you optimal quench and better compression. I have unmilled ported 243's and a 232/234 cam with a .040 gasket and things are working quite well. I had actually considered milling the heads as well as the thinner gasket but decided to be safe and keep a little more PTVC.
The downside to milling the head is that you lose more PTV clearance because you have to mill .007 per CC instead of the .005 per CC that you get with a thinner gasket or deck mill. With the cam you have you're going to be close on your PTVC, so take that into consideration. Milling 2cc will only cost you .014" in clearance though, so you will likely be fine either way.
I would recommend the thinner gasket over the head mill every time. In this case you will lose a little more clearance going with a .040 gasket, but it will give you optimal quench and better compression. I have unmilled ported 243's and a 232/234 cam with a .040 gasket and things are working quite well. I had actually considered milling the heads as well as the thinner gasket but decided to be safe and keep a little more PTVC.
I believe MLS is .060 and graphite is .052. If you've ever had to scrape off a graphite gasket before you'll already know to NEVER NEVER NEVER use a graphite gasket. Pay the extra money and get a good MLS.
Going with a thinner gasket will give you a smaller quench which is benificial in controlling detonation. Going from stock MLS to a .040 gasket is going to gain you a little over half a point on your compression ratio though, which is a little more than you would gain with a 2cc head shave. However, it will give you a very good quench distance.
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