I apologize Rick. I meant to ask: "What do you think you did to result in a lifted gasket?" Squeeze, a/f ratio, overheat?
I'm not really sure - I suspected the trapped air in the system. Because the return radiator hose is the highest point in the system, I was never able to get all the air out. I'd see the temp rise quickly, then after a minute or so, it'd drop back down quickly. I've got an in-line filler neck on order to take care of that problem. As I mentioned, I also have a CRS electric water pump on order. I'm also going to be putting in a spring inside the return hose to keep it from collapsing under high rpms (just as a precaution). Not telling when it started. It might've started a while back and slowly gotten worse. The correct a/f was set at the dyno (Diablo chip burned) - for all I know, it could've started there. ... Ed and Scott, I'm still thinking about the swap. I'll get back to you on that. In the meantime, take care of my potential trades ... I looked at the MLS (Cometic) gaskets. I'll do some research and make a decision soon. Thx for the info.
Thanks, Andy. I'll get the heads to a machine shop and have them go over them 'some time'. Christmas time is not the time to be spending money on myself, but hopefully I can get the heads there pretty soon. I'll probably have .010" taken off. I'll also have them check the springs I have to see what lift I can get away with and maybe step up a little more on the cam while it's down. It could be a 'blessing in desguise'! ('trying really hard to put a positive spin on it. )
Rick , You might want to try Cometic MLS (Multi Layered Steel) head gaskets like I have. They cast about $75.00 each ...but I don`t think you`ll ever blow one. And they are re-usable.
Thanks for the suggestion, Mike. I just can't seem to pull the trigger on tho$e though. I also understand the surfaces have to be SUPER smooth. I don't doubt they are great gaskets, but my block hasn't been resurfaced in a while (it was zero decked 3 heads ago). I also read where these gaskets are "too good" - as in the piston will blow before the gasket (just passing along the info I came across). From what I've read, I belive I will go with the Fel-Pro 9333's. A lot of the turbo'd and nitroused guys are using them with good luck. They're very inexpensive as they are a factory replacement part for 'some' year SBF's. I personally know two guys who have succesfully sprayed a 200 shot of nitrous over 100 times with these gaskets. The blocks broke before the gaskets gave out. I did Google both (and a few others). You can find people bashing them all, but overall, I heard more props for the 9333's than any other. I also found people bashing the 1011-2's now - which, at the time of install, was THE gasket to use. Pfft. Oh well, maybe I'll change my mind after I blow these too.
rick, from reading all your posts in this thread i think something is wrong with ... your... head. Jamies friend...frank...
Yep maybe the deck surface isn`t what it should be. By the way the reason I went with with the Cometics was to get the twenty five thousandths compressed thickness to help raise compression ratio when I went to the new heads. (didn`t want to mill them due to planning a stroker later)
On any stock block HP motor I run a 9333pt1 gasket with a copper oring in the deck...the stock decks just aint up to snuff some times..
The block had been zero decked before the new heads were put on. That doesn't necessarily mean that the surfaces are flat on the block OR the heads. I'll have both checked to help determine the cause. Oh well. We'll see what happens with the 9333's.
