So I am putting new bearings in my 402 and I can't decide what to do about the head gaskets. I have cosmetics now that are .040 thick and that gives me 11.25 compression with my setup. I'm spraying 200-250 and I'm not sure if I trust reusing them but I don't feel like spending $200 on a new set. Would you guys copper coat and reuse or buy a set of ls9, ls2? The ls9's will drop me to about 10.7 compression and the ls2 will drop to about 10.9.

 

You'll probably get mixed results on that question. Some people will tell you to never ever reuse a head gasket no matter what and you're an idiot to do so. Others will tell you that there's absolutely nothing wrong with reusing them and they've been doing it for years with a lot of boost or big shots of nitrous with no issues whatsoever. Me personally, I'd get new ones unless I just flat out didn't have the money to buy them and I had to get the engine back together in a hurry. If you're not strapped for cash or in a big hurry, why not just get a new set and have peace of mind. That's my .02 cents.

 

I have reused ls9 gaskets on one of my boosted motors with no problems at 21psi. I have just heard a lot of bad stories with cometics even new. I don't really want to spend $200 on them but i would be open to the ls2 or ls9 gasket if there won't be much of a difference losing the .5 point of compression.

 

I had a set of .040 cosmetics on my old 404. I bet I reused them 4 times lmao. Never had one go bad. I have a set on my LSX now. And when the time comes, if they look ok I'm going to reuse them as well.

 

Did you clean them any certain way? Mine look like Texas Speed used copper spray when they put the motor together in 2006.

 

Just cleaned them with brake cleaner.

 

My Advice, BUY Felpro.

THEN get a good ignition coil, sorry, try MY IGN-1A kit !

Just "google" IGN-1A"

I would like to provide more information.

Lance

 

He's trying to save 200 bucks by reusing a head gasket, and you're trying to sell a product irrelevant to the thread...a product that retails for $67 a coil??
How did coils even get brought up?
We understand you're a sponsor and want to market your product, but this just doesn't make much sense to me??

 

This guy has posted in every post I have made recently. I will not be buying any after market coils. Lol

 

His solution to everybody's problem is to buy his coils haha
Spun a rod bearing=buy my coils!
Blew a tire= buy my coils!
Wife screwed my neighbor= buy my coils!

 

OK, GUYS just be fair.
YES, the thread is about head gasket "use".
My answer was NOT to use Cometic steel.
My inspection method, yours too, is to "inspect" the bore area of a Cometic gasket for CRACKS.
I have found that problem in that past, a number of years ago.
Just "open" the layers at the bore area, look at the center layer.

The chance that YOUR fitted brand "cosmetics" is different from the Cometic brand could also be the case ?

NOW for 2K, we DO NOT supply "aftermarket" coils, they ARE OEM.

I DOUBT any here have EVEN "lifted" a head, at a bench dyno test session.
I have in the past, a Quad Four, observing a minor miss-fire and a smoke puff at 6K RPM.
I called my friend Jim Fueling, the Quad Four expert at that time, we contacted Fel-Pro, they supplied NEW bolts, bench dyno retested, "tech" report created, put to bed.

NOW for the "screw" lies :

1. My wife is from Canada, her grandfather built the Canadian Nation Railroad, doubt she would take a 2nd look at MOST men.
2. "BLEW" a tire, even in my wildest dreams, I don't know how to "blow" a tire !
3. Rod failure, OK

My explanation :
Most answered threads are concerned with a way to INCREASE engine strength.
That logic states less engine failure ?

MY method is to NEVER create the problem, one easy to correct, in the first place.

This is the METHOD used by the top engine assemblers and ALL OEM's.

WHEN an engine makes good power, quality accurate ignition is required.
This will help stop cap "walk", head lift, burned valves, etc.

This is my method, to be of help to the readers at LS-1 tech.
My coil, IGN-1A, is the worlds #1 accepted/used ignition coil.

I believe that is GOOD information to share, a fact that has helped many users.

Lance

 

Ok, the use of "..." and CAPS makes it hard to comprehend, but I'll try.

Never once did you try to explain an inspection method. You just threw out a brand name (fel-pro in this case) without any reason as to why they would be better than a cometic. You didn't answer, and seemingly ignored the point of this thread, then sidetracked it by tossing in your coils.

I've seen factory 100k Mile truck coils make over 1k hp. At tracks near me, there are guys making anywhere from 300hp to that 1k mark, they all have the same coils. You might see the random guy with a set of MSD or maybe even the bright yellow accels, but it's only because they like the color, or because they didn't buy an engine that already had coils. The head gaskets seem to hold fine regardless of which coils so I'm not sure how it's relevant here.

 

OK, fair is fair.

I too asked for interest for more information.
You were the only one who took the time to ask, thus my inspection "method".
I believe that method is understood.

Now for our coils, sure the 1K HP report is agreed.
Our OEM coils last as reported.
I never stated that they were an inferior coil as designed by OEM engineers.
They did require a dwell limit in some coils AND this could cause an early Spark Instant if dwell is exceeded.

Example : The TFD/TFFC racing engine, if ONE miss-fire happens, will explode if incomplete combustion takes place.
The LS engine, Turbosupercharged, NOS, SC supercharged, Hi-C.R. needs a high energy ignition to help the engine's combustion quality.
Our concern is the best life out of the GM-LS engine.

Sure gasket "life", as you noted, is agreed.
There are the others with problems, not noted.

Thus: "Head gasket life can be increased when quality combustion takes place".

A Reason : The reports from users include a REQUIREMENT of a LOWER amount of Spark Advance when coil energy is increased, a normal value of -2* @ 4K + RPM is common.

Lance

 

It's good to know that there have been so many that have had no problems reusing head gaskets. Maybe Ill give it a try some day if I am ever faced with that situation.

On another note, what in the hell is up with mr ignition coil and why does he keep posting nonsensical crap in 90% of the threads I read on a daily basis?