head gasket options

[ndog]

cutting ring or standard????I pulled my topend off and it is at a machine shop, should I go with another cutting ring gasket /or is that not so important?I have a "stage2 clean air korman build"

thanks all.

[TobyB]

The thing about cutting ring, once you use it, you 'have' to have the surface

of the head cut every time you use one.

The quotes are because I'm sure that some peopel have gotten away without

doing so.

Most engine builders that have expressed opinions about o- ringing (which

is very similar) say that if you need it on a street engine, something's wrong

with your setup.

Racers push motors right to the limits, and rebuild them accordingly.

So after all that, I'd say, standard head gasket unless you're planning something super- duper- special.

hth

t

[allbim]

I have had no problems using a standard gasket with a head that was previously used with a cutting-ring gasked. All I did with the head was stone it smooth. No machining.

[Rocan]

Standard is fine. Only reason for cutting ring or o-ring would be high boost applications (you could probably get away with close to 1 bar (14psi) with a stock gasket if you know what you are doing).

As far as company, OEM or victor reinz.

[TobyB]

I have had no problems using a standard gasket with a head that was previously used with a cutting-ring gasket.

Ha- hadn't thought about that- it'd probably work fine.

The proscription that I'd heard was that thou shalt not use ANOTHER

cutting ring gasket, since the rings never line up exactly right,

and that cuts across the sealing surface, creating a potential leak.

I had a parts head that had had that exact thing happen, and there

was a pretty noticable channel cut by the escaping exhaust gasses.

But a regular gasket wouldn't have that problem.

In fact, the groove would be a poor man's o- ring...

heh.

t

[ndog]

^thats funny toby!I thought the same thing,the old gasket marked/cut the head the marks kinda looks like a engine block with liners.

thanks all

[Rocan]

I have had no problems using a standard gasket with a head that was previously used with a cutting-ring gasket.

Ha- hadn't thought about that- it'd probably work fine.

The proscription that I'd heard was that thou shalt not use ANOTHER

cutting ring gasket, since the rings never line up exactly right,

and that cuts across the sealing surface, creating a potential leak.

I had a parts head that had had that exact thing happen, and there

was a pretty noticable channel cut by the escaping exhaust gasses.

But a regular gasket wouldn't have that problem.

In fact, the groove would be a poor man's o- ring...

heh.

t

now that you mention it, yet another option is grooved with a standard gasket (or o-ring without the o ring). The groove creates a seal as it deforms the gasket when the head is tightened down.

[TobyB]

Yup- the 'o- ring' on an o- ringed block is usually steel wire slightly

larger in diameter than the groove, so it forms a grooved dent in the gasket.

I suspect there's a bit of science involved in the dimensions...

t