Can I use a thinner head gasket?
Changing gasket thickness can be used to fine-tune compression. However, the gasket’s thickness will also affect its ability to seal the combustion chamber and oil and coolant passages. Changing the gasket thickness should only be done when modifying an engine for high performance.
Is a thinner head gasket better?
Blowing a headgasket is caused more by detonation than anything. High compression on a turbocharged engine is a big no no. The thinner the headgasket the more compression it will add. If you run high comp and then up the boost your going to not only blow a headgasket but more likely a piston to chunks of metal.
How thick is LS9 head gasket?
0.055″
This is the OEM head gasket for the LS9. It is a 7-layer gasket with a 4.100″ bore and 0.055″ thickness. This is a common upgrade to use on boosted LS3/LSA engines.
How much will a head gasket compress?
A composite gasket will be thicker, and usually compress to around 75% of thier original size. The gasket bores are usually designed for the maximum overbore of the largest bore they can fit.
Why do you need a thinner head gasket?
Using a thinner head gasket brings head closer to deck, decreasing the area between the head and piston to increase CR. Since the pistons protrude from the cylinder on LS engines, using a head gasket less than .040″ is really pushing it and rocking of the piston in the bore can cause piston to head contact.
What should the head gasket be on a Chevy SS?
Since the pistons protrude from the cylinder on LS engines, using a head gasket less than .040″ is really pushing it and rocking of the piston in the bore can cause piston to head contact. Another angle is to research high lift cams. How much lift has been added without issue to stock bottom end?
What kind of gasket do I need for a 350 hp engine?
Fel-Pro makes a steel shim head gasket with a very thin rubber coating for a 4.00-inch bore 350 that is only 0.015-inch thick. When added to your 0.020-inch deck height, this produces a 0.035-inch piston-to-head clearance.
Using a thinner head gasket brings head closer to deck, decreasing the area between the head and piston to increase CR. Since the pistons protrude from the cylinder on LS engines, using a head gasket less than .040″ is really pushing it and rocking of the piston in the bore can cause piston to head contact.
Since the pistons protrude from the cylinder on LS engines, using a head gasket less than .040″ is really pushing it and rocking of the piston in the bore can cause piston to head contact. Another angle is to research high lift cams. How much lift has been added without issue to stock bottom end?
What’s the difference between head gasket thickness and compressed thickness?
Head gasket thickness is the distance between the engine block and the cylinder head, when the head is properly installed and torqued. The compressed thickness is what matters. The compressed thickness is built-in by the gasket maker.
Fel-Pro makes a steel shim head gasket with a very thin rubber coating for a 4.00-inch bore 350 that is only 0.015-inch thick. When added to your 0.020-inch deck height, this produces a 0.035-inch piston-to-head clearance.