To all,
Gary was not trying to describe O-ringing a head. That involves machine work.
Usually includes using the Turbo head gasket. Lots of the guys running over 14:1
on their compression ratio will do this.
What he was describing is often used by Sprite racers on high compression motors
insure reliability of the stock head gasket. My race motor is only 12.7:1.
Comptune sells head gaskets with the wire already installed by them... but they
don't always have them in stock. It takes an hour or two to do the modification.
Gary wasn't quite correct in his description. A Sprite head gasket is about .030
thick. The procedure does include Superglue... but the fire ring must be
carefully
pryed up all they way around. .030 stainless steel wire is pressed in and
glued.
The fire ring is then pressed back down into place.
In my particular season of head gasket problem, the deck and head were check for
true, ARP studs were used, the wired fire ring was tried... nothing solved the
problem. ARP spec on the head torque is 55 lbs using oil, or 35 lbs using a
moly
based lubricant. Comptune suggested taking it to 55 lbs using moly...problem
solved.
That head gaskets hasn't failed in 2 1/2 years now... including having the head
off and reusing the gasket once.
WST
Flounder
Team Thicko
HFC wrote:
> Gary,
> No wonder it didn't work... super gluing a piece of wire is NOT an acceptable
> way to O-ring a head! I don't mean to be harsh, but....
> WFO Herb
>
> Gary Speckman wrote:
>
> > David, we have tried this "O-ring" thing several times on the Team Thicko
> > Sprites. One season, WST consistently blew head gaskets, blowing out
> > between number three and four cylinder.
> >
> > What this involves is taking a thin piece of copper wire and either super
> > gluing it around the perimeter of the cylinder hole in the gasket, or
> > lifting up the small metal ridge that is formed around some types of head
> > gaskets, and forcing the wire in that space. All this does is provide a
> > little additional thickness(at TT, we're plenty thick, alright)around the
> > cylinder hole opening of the head gasket. When it is compressed under
> > torque, it squashes and in theory, provides a better seal.
> >
> > Sometimes this works if the head is warped a bit. Getting the little wire
> > to stay put on the head gasket is time consuming as all four cylinder holes
> > have to be "ringed". And then you pray they stay in place when you put the
> > head on, etc etc..
> >
> > I simply cannot recommend this procedure as it didnt help with WST's
> > problems and for the amount of time spent doing it...its just not worth it.
> >
> > Gary
> > TT
> > Plover WI
> > www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1579
> > www.thicko.com
> > >
> > PS Thank you for your thoughtful reply to my Pigs thing. I guess the
> > reason most people subscribe to this list is because they read the
> > description of it on the "lists" page. After a while, the "chat" part of it
> > turns a lot of them off. Thats just how some people are. Me? I am a
> > glutton for punishment, so I stay subscribed.
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