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RB30 Head Gasket thickness for more boost


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Hi All,
Have a VL NA converted to Turbo, after a thicker head gasket, looking into MLS cometic. 
They come in 1.29mm. 1.89mm and above 2.0mm thickness.

Planning to run hi boost (20psi) any advice would be great.


2.5mm thickness would drop it to nearly 8:4:1 or something like that?

Seems like 1.29mm is default choice for rebuilds?

Leaning towards 1.89mm thickness. What thickness do people mostly use?

Will keep it on 98 octane for now but will eventually go on E85

 

TIA.

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25 minutes ago, VL_Turbo said:

Anyone?

Really, after just half an hour?

There is no way that I would want an engine with only 8.4:1. What management are you using? Anything with good management for knock control should have no fear of running at least mid 9s.

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Update, changing paths and now going with Nitto 1.1mm with (fire rings) head gasket as opposed to mls cometic 1.29mm gasket.

apparently nitto seals better and have stronger fire rings. 
cometic is good but would require copper spray and wet stone/knife sharpening the block as cometic are very sensitive and my leak compression if not done properly. 

👍

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Good luck telling the difference between the two.

 

Also I seriously doubt the nitto gasket is any more forgiving than another mls gasket. They all need to have the sealing surfaces prepped  properly.

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Cometic also recommend installing dry. Not sure why you think they need copper spray, or why the nitto can handle a bad deck surface.

 

 

Cometic make great gaskets. Nitto make great gaskets. That's what I mean.

For a slap together build no way is the head gasket going to be the actual root cause of any failure.

 

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No, single cam. Thanks kindly. I just put the tensioner back on and there is a little spring, so I just put that back in the grove and put the bolt back on?
 

Crank and cam gear seal seem the same ?👍

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On 11/3/2023 at 5:45 PM, robbo_rb180 said:

*next post- my engine is making a knocking sound

 

Any decent metal head gasket will do the job. Do Arp head studs and valve springs while the head is off.

Pending turbo sizing, fuel system and condition of engine, bottom end will be the biggest weak point.

Bought some copper spray today. I also believe it's good to add copper spray for extra safety.

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