Just sent my LQ9 block and 317 heads to the machine shop. Getting double o-ringed and 1/2" studs installed. My question is how bullet proof is this combo?? A friend of mine has the same block and head work as I described and he's 13.5:1 and spraying 500hp with a plate and fogger system. I have know idea what his cylinder pressures are but they gotta be high. He's never lifted a head or pushed water so I'm feeling pretty confident. I'm going forged 370 with either S88 or F1. So I'm wondering about lifting a head, the PSI will be pushed pretty high. The compressor maps will hold atleast 30psi, so anybody got experiance or input on this setup ???? Thanks in advance..

 

A properly machined double o-ring set up is good for 1,500 hp+, but this is with aftermarket heads. I don't know how well the stock castings hold up to this with their thinner decks, but I would suspect issues over 1k as a possibility.
Don't get greedy with the tune and you should be ok for some good power.

 

Cool, thanks for the info. Does anyone else have an opinion or experience with this ??

 

Ok, I talked to him(Morton Machine)again. Here's what he said; .040 stainless double(one in the head and one in the block) concentric o-ring. And yes the LS motors only have 4 bolts per cylinder. Soon to be 1/2" studs torqued to 100ftlbs and he insists on the .060 copper gasket. Its a centrifical blower pushing 25-30psi and deck thickness is unknown, factory iron block with factory aluminum heads. It will be making roughly 800-900 RWHP with this combo.
So with this being the facts or what I know as fact. Whatcha thinkin ??

 

With that motor setup and everything else being on; tune, fuel, everything else. The motor will handle well over what the F1 or S88 can throw at it.

 

Anybody running a copper head gasket on the street ?? Any leaking issues ??