So I Just Blew My First Head Gasket..

[Feenyx]

.. And I'm not too sad about it. I realize these things happen every once in awhile, and it was just my turn. It's probably been in the making for some while, and the car was driven hard all day on a warm day before it finally went 'poof' and there was a nice cloud of white smoke behind the car.

Bearing in mind that I'll have to do quite a bit of automotive surgery to replace the item, I was thinking I'd hear opinions on what replacement item to get, as I don't want to repeat the procedure again any time soon

What are you people running, stock HG's or aftermarket ones?

Also, I cannot for the life of me figure out how thick the original HG is, but aftermarket ones range from 0.8 to 1.4mm, and I'm not quite sure what to go for.

I run a pretty stock setup (engine wise) at the moment, pod filter and exhaust system, but would like to be prepared for another 100rwhp or so in the future. I have a Greddy FMIC kit already waiting to be installed, and I figure I'd get me a new downpipe too while I'm at it.

Whether this affects the choice of HG I have no idea, but I figured there's gotta be someone on here that does.

All help highly appreciated, as there's not too many Skylines around in my country, so expertise is thin on the ground.

Edited August 17, 2008 by Feenyx

[R32 Driver]

stock as that id stick with stock head gasket.......

barely scratching the surface of stage 1 mods

to thick a gasket = shit off boost driverbility and its not like u have huge boost to bring u to speed

get a FMIC

turbo back exhuast (dump,front)

boost controller, manual one should be sufficient if your on a budget else a electronic one like greddy prof b or blitz

Apexi SAFC2 tuned

upgraded fuel pump

maybe clutch in the future

should net u 260-280rwhp

[Feenyx]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Like I said, I have a FMIC kit already, that I'll put in when I replace the HG since it's all coming to bits anyway.

I do have an electronic boost controller, but forgot to mention it in the original post - a Blitz SCB i-D.

At the moment, I just have a cat back system from Blitz (it came with the car), but I'd like to get a full turbo back system eventually.

I replaced the clutch about 6 months ago, when the old one let go, so that's already taken care of.

What's the purpose of the SAFC2 if I may be as bold as to ask?

And just how much rwhp will a stock HG cope with?

[R32 Driver]

Skylines were born as turbo cars, plenty of people dont open them up till late 300s or early 400s for a rebuild

stock HG will be fine until you chase enough power for a full rebuild

bit of hit and miss really

SAFC2 is a piggy back computer to tune your air/fuel ratios as running more boost will make the stock ecu run rich

if you have a bit more cash get a full computer like the power fc (safc 2nd hand $200-250, 100 install 200 tune)

power fc will cost 1400ish + plug in + tune of 500-1k pending which workshop u go with