Head gasket selection?
Head gasket selection? What do you guys think is the thinnest head gasket I can use on a zero decked block? I heard .026. I just want to make sure to save myself the headache on my heads. Thanks for the help!
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 323
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From: NW AR
Have you measured how far the pistons come out of the hole? You can get away with GM Impala head gaskets, but the are getting hard to find. Cometic makes think gaskets that are about $100 apiece.
What part of zero decked don't you understand?
OP generally most builders are going to tell you .035ish piston to head clearance is safe. Yes guys have run tighter but .026 would be tighter than advisable. The clearance changes once the engine is running the block/rods/pistons all expand with heat, the piston rocks in the bore etc.
With a zero deck and wanting to do it real well I would look at Cometic see what they have in mid to low .03- If you want to keep it simple .039 is readily available from Felpro.
Should have asked FIRST and left the piston a little deeper and been able to run the .026 or .029 gaskets
OP generally most builders are going to tell you .035ish piston to head clearance is safe. Yes guys have run tighter but .026 would be tighter than advisable. The clearance changes once the engine is running the block/rods/pistons all expand with heat, the piston rocks in the bore etc.
With a zero deck and wanting to do it real well I would look at Cometic see what they have in mid to low .03- If you want to keep it simple .039 is readily available from Felpro.
Should have asked FIRST and left the piston a little deeper and been able to run the .026 or .029 gaskets
For near-optimal quench and safe engine operation, you'll want to stay in the .035" to .040" range for an engine that's gonna see regular street duty.
Since you're already zero-decked, then a .035" to .040" head gasket is what you want.
Best of luck!!
KW
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 419
Likes: 4
From: Long Beach, MS
Doesn't zero decked answer that question already?
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 323
Likes: 2
From: NW AR
What part of zero decked don't you understand?
OP generally most builders are going to tell you .035ish piston to head clearance is safe. Yes guys have run tighter but .026 would be tighter than advisable. The clearance changes once the engine is running the block/rods/pistons all expand with heat, the piston rocks in the bore etc.
With a zero deck and wanting to do it real well I would look at Cometic see what they have in mid to low .03- If you want to keep it simple .039 is readily available from Felpro.
Should have asked FIRST and left the piston a little deeper and been able to run the .026 or .029 gaskets
OP generally most builders are going to tell you .035ish piston to head clearance is safe. Yes guys have run tighter but .026 would be tighter than advisable. The clearance changes once the engine is running the block/rods/pistons all expand with heat, the piston rocks in the bore etc.
With a zero deck and wanting to do it real well I would look at Cometic see what they have in mid to low .03- If you want to keep it simple .039 is readily available from Felpro.
Should have asked FIRST and left the piston a little deeper and been able to run the .026 or .029 gaskets
He never said how far the piston was out of the hole or what. Keep being a moron.
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"zero decked" is most often used to describe having the block decked till the pistons are flush with the deck.
I thought the OP knew what he was saying and meant that. My comment was for the guy who was then suggesting he measure. Why don't you find out what you have and clarify.
If someone wants to be difficult they can come up with other meanings but the VAST majority of the time you see the phrase "zero decked" on a forum like this or in engine discussion it will refer to cutting the block till it is flush with the piston top.
I thought the OP knew what he was saying and meant that. My comment was for the guy who was then suggesting he measure. Why don't you find out what you have and clarify.
If someone wants to be difficult they can come up with other meanings but the VAST majority of the time you see the phrase "zero decked" on a forum like this or in engine discussion it will refer to cutting the block till it is flush with the piston top.
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Verdad Gallardo 12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 419
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From: Long Beach, MS
I thought that was exactly what he said by mentioning zero decked. I've always understood that a zero decked block meant that your piston is 0 down in the block, aka flush with it. maybe i misunderstood what was being asked.
i would think that a block that is still stock and hasn't been decked would be referred to as an un-decked block.
If it is un-decked then yes .026 is fine, but if it is zero decked than .035-.040 as already stated.
i would think that a block that is still stock and hasn't been decked would be referred to as an un-decked block.
If it is un-decked then yes .026 is fine, but if it is zero decked than .035-.040 as already stated.
I have for sure a zero decked block. I mean I haven't second checked it yet because I have not restarted the build just yet. Just trying to get my ducks in a row to know what works and what doesnt and why? Does my heads being milled an extra .050 help any?
Last edited by SwampWS6; Oct 7, 2013 at 08:37 PM.
Maybe a little off topic, but I'm about to have my main journals honed which will change the crank center=line and also move the pistons up slightly in the bores. Just for reference I'll check it before and after just to see how much it changed. Not a common to have a a block line honed, but I'll be interested to see how it impacts my gasket choice (and compression ratio), especially considering the block has already been decked.
Yes.....but if this is NOT a race only engine, then a .030" gasket is risky for no good reason.
As mentioned before.....if this is a engine you plan to drive for 100,000 miles or more, then use a .035" to .040" gasket.
4.040".....4.060"......Pfttt.....make no real difference as long as no part of the gasket is overhanging the cylinder bore.
I'd be OK using a 4.040" gasket as long as the cylinder is not bored.....if it's a stock 4" bore.....makes no difference.
KW
As mentioned before.....if this is a engine you plan to drive for 100,000 miles or more, then use a .035" to .040" gasket.
I'd be OK using a 4.040" gasket as long as the cylinder is not bored.....if it's a stock 4" bore.....makes no difference.
KW
Yes.....but if this is NOT a race only engine, then a .030" gasket is risky for no good reason.
As mentioned before.....if this is a engine you plan to drive for 100,000 miles or more, then use a .035" to .040" gasket.
4.040".....4.060"......Pfttt.....make no real difference as long as no part of the gasket is overhanging the cylinder bore.
I'd be OK using a 4.040" gasket as long as the cylinder is not bored.....if it's a stock 4" bore.....makes no difference.
KW
As mentioned before.....if this is a engine you plan to drive for 100,000 miles or more, then use a .035" to .040" gasket.
4.040".....4.060"......Pfttt.....make no real difference as long as no part of the gasket is overhanging the cylinder bore.
I'd be OK using a 4.040" gasket as long as the cylinder is not bored.....if it's a stock 4" bore.....makes no difference.
KW
Right. But do you think 4.040 is too small? Technically the bore is 4.030.....and a 4.040 gasket should not hang into the bore