cometic head gasket for low compression

[jimmy_]

i was told stock head gasket's can hold 14 pounds so if i want to pass 14 pounds i need a cometic head gasket so my question is what is the proper thickness for a ls trying to pass 14 pounds or just to have it standard size i know is 81mm

 

[Ghost75]

I'd imagine any cometic gasket could handle what you're going for, but the 81mm you're looking at is piston bore size...stock is 81mm

 

[Muckman]

Jimmy, you were grossly misinformed with that broad generalization of tuning advice. Please don't talk to them anymore and come here for any further questions.

The goal of a thicker head gasket is to lower static compression which is old school thinking and not necessary today. You're safe to run stock compression on pump gas up to ~400hp (regardless of boost pressure).

 

[jimmy_]

so its safe to say run my car on the stock gasket untill i surpass 400 or get to 400hp

 

[Muckman]

The head gasket isn't the issue. Stock cast pistons are the weakest link.
And running a thicker head gasket isn't going to fix the piston.

What are your goals? Lets start there.

 

[jimmy_]

i want to pull at least 250 at the wheel on my b18a1 all stock internals

 

[jimmy_]

lets say my pistons get swapped and i do my leak down test and compression test and i pass with flying colors would it even matter if i changed my stock head gasket with a cometic and swap out the head,main studs and rod bolts

 

[jbrown97ls]

250 shouldn't be an issue with a healthy engine and a good tune. I would replace the hg no matter what but you don't need a cometic. Oem is more than enough.

 

[Muckman]

250 is no problem on a stock LS at all. Don't touch a thing, there's no need to.

 

[Ghost75]

250 boosted stock shouldn't be a problem, I'd throw in arp headstuds and you're good for a good bit more.