Race Spec Head Gaskets

[88liam]

Hi All,

The 225bhp 16v engine is finally under going assembly,
any advice on head gaskets, trying to source a pair.

Liam

[PETROLHEAD]

Have you tried to get a genuine alfa one yeg liam?

I seem to recall they're pretty good for high comp/high power na engines without the need for a "performance" branded gasket,

Its just if you can still get them?

[88liam]

Hello Shrew,

Thanks for advice pal.
Tried Magnoletsi, no joy, they checked the dealership stock list, couple of dealers in Italy, lost the will to live with translation.
Left a message with AHM to see if he stocked head gaskets for race engines, awaiting a call back.
Collected gaskets from John at Justsuds today, top man.

Your cam covers, apologies for delay, missed placed the covers which i had blasted, they now packaged will post this week.

Thanks again Liam

[PETROLHEAD]

No problem Liam, i hope the gaskets work out.

I might be trying some laser cut copper gaskets at some point, but a good way off yet

[Simonsud]

Copper gasket prober old sckool last copper gasket I changed was a Morris minor

[PETROLHEAD]

Yes its an old skool idea, for a modern idea.

I'm thinking of dropping the compression just slightly to prepare a relatively stock 16v motor for turbocharging, and this still seems to be a good option to me.

[rsfruitbat]

88liam - what Compression Ratio are you going to run?
I am running just over 11:1 in the rally car without problems on stock gaskets.

rsfruitbat

[88liam]

Hi,

88liam - what Compression Ratio are you going to run?
I am running just over 11:1 in the rally car without problems on stock gaskets.

rsfruitbat

Believe the compresson ratio to be 10.8, sourced the gaskets from John at Justsuds,
good to know stock gaskets are good at 11.1, thanks rsfruitbat.

[88liam]

Hi Shrew,

No problem Liam, i hope the gaskets work out.

I might be trying some laser cut copper gaskets at some point, but a good way off yet

I have a set of copper gaskets which came with a box off bits, my engine builder advised against
using them, i can see the benefit for reducing compression.

Shrew, apologies for delay in posting the cam covers,
they are now packaged and ready to post, thanks again.


Liam

[PETROLHEAD]

There has always has been a divided opinion on solid copper head gaskets, although I'm not 100 convinced either side of the argument, for my own use and design, its a cheap method of what i want to do and if it works im quids in, if not, it won't be the end of the world either.

A lot of yank motor builders still use them in high power units today, but they will just be one side if the argument of course!

[Simonsud]

Can't you use standard gaskets and get a thin steel spacer / gasket made this a proven method used when heads are skimmed over manufactures tolerances
Used a lot on rover k series engines and not had a problem
Most cars I've found with copper gaskets they have failed between bores it seems the combustion gasses burn them out

[Spacenut]

I once had an engine (Vauxhall/Lotus 2.3 DOHC 16v) that had the tops of the cylinder bores machined to take steel O-rings. The cylinder head torque compressed the O-rings into the bores. No need for gaskets, or sealant, so the heads can be popped on and off at race meetings, and they allegedly never fail. Requires quite a bit of engineering work though...

Lauren