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View Full Version : what headgasket would you run...


aNskY
03-22-2008, 03:31 PM
sr stock block, stock head, 50 trim, 740's, pfc.

last time i used a cometic but now i see no one likes them... i have heard oem is best.. what do you guys think

g-via
03-22-2008, 03:38 PM
OEM is always the best.

MavericStephenc
03-22-2008, 03:41 PM
apexi hg

I think metal h/g is a great upgrade, esp. because your boostin a bit more than stock. (or so I would imagine)

DreamN
03-22-2008, 03:44 PM
The Cometic is a great head gasket to have, but many are too lazy or lack the funds to get the blocked decked and are unaware that you need to torque them down to 70-80 ft/lbs. Having your block as flat as possible and torqued down properly will surely keep it from leaking.

Felpro OEM replacement is perfect if you're doing an OEM rebuild or don't plan on boosting too much.

DDSR240
03-22-2008, 03:44 PM
oem is not the best or they never would have came out with a metal gasket...I would get another cometic put the copper sealer on the gasket to help it be less prone to hot spots witch will lead to detination. Hope that helps... better yet i heard the cometic fuzion is there newest one out but i've had no experiance with it.

aNskY
03-22-2008, 03:45 PM
yes i am going to run probably ~18 psi

should i drop compression a bit? how thick?

aNskY
03-22-2008, 03:46 PM
The Cometic is a great head gasket to have, but many are too lazy or lack the funds to get the blocked decked and are unaware that you need to torque them down to 70-80 ft/lbs. Having your block as flat as possible and torqued down properly will surely keep it from leaking.

Felpro OEM replacement is perfect if you're doing an OEM rebuild or don't plan on boosting too much.


of course i am going to have the head decked, and follow gasket manufactuter tq. specs, just as i did last time. motor went boom for unknown reasons.... maybe i will re-use that cometic :rofl:

DDSR240
03-22-2008, 03:47 PM
also dont just torque the head down you've got to do it in increments 15, 30, 50 ,80 and torque the bolts in the correct order

BoostinGST
03-22-2008, 03:48 PM
also get some arp head studs.

aNskY
03-22-2008, 03:50 PM
also dont just torque the head down you've got to do it in increments 15, 30, 50 ,80 and torque the bolts in the correct order


this i know

and i already have arp's

WilloW
03-22-2008, 03:51 PM
apexi hg

I think metal h/g is a great upgrade, esp. because your boostin a bit more than stock. (or so I would imagine)
That's what I've got, the other choice would be Power Enterprise.

kuramaya
03-22-2008, 04:15 PM
I run 1.0 Tomei. 1.2 bar of boost for 2 years.

GSXRJJordan
03-22-2008, 04:15 PM
Apexi/Power Enterprise/HKS/Tomei.

Good deal on PE right now...

garagelu
03-22-2008, 04:15 PM
Cometic is crap. Apexi, power enterprise or cosworth are the best. Spend the money for the better quality. You wont regret it.

fliprayzin240sx
03-22-2008, 09:06 PM
+1 on Apex'i

sac
03-22-2008, 11:26 PM
hks, apexi, or tomei

awesomenick
03-22-2008, 11:29 PM
I run a Cometic on my ka-t. I misted copper spray on it despite the warnings not to, and it's been great. Only at half bar, mind you.

louisdaboois
03-22-2008, 11:30 PM
The Cometic is a great head gasket to have, but many are too lazy or lack the funds to get the blocked decked and are unaware that you need to torque them down to 70-80 ft/lbs. Having your block as flat as possible and torqued down properly will surely keep it from leaking.

Felpro OEM replacement is perfect if you're doing an OEM rebuild or don't plan on boosting too much.

totally agree, but I got my head and block decked on my ka-t and cometic still leaked.... maybe it was just a defective one, but after using one, im not totally fond of it. Honestly, felpro permatorque has been doing wonders at 1 bar and half the price of cometic, haha.

sac
03-22-2008, 11:34 PM
i didnt use that copper spray last time. Is it good to run that with the hks, apexi, or tomei HG?

HalveBlue
03-22-2008, 11:44 PM
First question to ask yourself is how much boost and HP is your engine producing right now, and how much do you plan on running in the future?

Second question, if you do plan on running more in the future, are you willing to remove the head to replace the HG with a higher rated one?

FWIW, OEM head gaskets should be good up until the 300 HP mark, if not 350.

Basically, unless you're making outrageous amounts of power, a stock HG should be able to cope if you install everything correctly. But if you plan on pushing a lot out of your engine in the future it may be well worth it to go with an upgraded head gasket now to avoid the hassle in the future.

P.S. Cometic is crap.

I haven't tried the other brands, but I hear good things from APEXi and Tomei.

Good Luck!

Prok0
03-22-2008, 11:44 PM
Tomei or Apex:bigok:

awesomenick
03-22-2008, 11:49 PM
i didnt use that copper spray last time. Is it good to run that with the hks, apexi, or tomei HG?

Cometic tells you specifically NOT to use copper spray. I misted it anyways, and it sealed fine. I have no experience with those other HG's.

sac
03-22-2008, 11:55 PM
Cometic tells you specifically NOT to use copper spray. I misted it anyways, and it sealed fine. I have no experience with those other HG's.
see i have used hks and tomei in the past. just not read directions. I know how to change a HG. Just didnt think about doing the copper spray.
anybody used the copper spray with the hks, tomei, or apexi hg?

loosesocksdiff
03-22-2008, 11:58 PM
cosworth metal HG is also pretty good.

s13drob
03-23-2008, 12:05 AM
my opinion? power enterprises. http://www.powerenterpriseusa.net/products/engine/gasket/gasket.html

check that out and find out why. i would gess apexi/hks/tomei are in the same boat but id choose PE.


POWER ENT. FTW!!!!!!!!!!

blownmotor
03-23-2008, 01:15 AM
Running an apexi 1.8mm been pretty good no copper spay though dropped my compression quite a bit

aNskY
03-23-2008, 06:41 AM
First question to ask yourself is how much boost and HP is your engine producing right now, and how much do you plan on running in the future?

Second question, if you do plan on running more in the future, are you willing to remove the head to replace the HG with a higher rated one?

FWIW, OEM head gaskets should be good up until the 300 HP mark, if not 350.

Basically, unless you're making outrageous amounts of power, a stock HG should be able to cope if you install everything correctly. But if you plan on pushing a lot out of your engine in the future it may be well worth it to go with an upgraded head gasket now to avoid the hassle in the future.

P.S. Cometic is crap.

I haven't tried the other brands, but I hear good things from APEXi and Tomei.

Good Luck!

i have to swap a long block so i am definately going to do the hg regardless...

1bar+ out of my 50 trim should put me over 300 fo sho

Big Bronze Rim
03-23-2008, 09:43 PM
+1 for the Apex'i. Its track record is excellent and its provent to work well. Had one on my car for two years with ARP studs and no issues. I have heard the Power Enterprise gasket is also very good. I believe its design is almost identical to the Apex'i.

180Sil
04-03-2008, 04:03 PM
just so you guys know....cometic also makes MHG for Cosworth

kensreliableb18b
04-03-2008, 04:05 PM
i dont feel like reading the whole thread. go with apexi if you can.

g6civcx
04-03-2008, 04:08 PM
last time i used a cometic but now i see no one likes them

I like Cometic. So your statement is wrong.



... i have heard oem is best..

Who did you hear this from?


what do you guys think

Cometic > *

NSR250
04-04-2008, 12:13 AM
what is the thickness of the stock headgasket?

aNskY
04-05-2008, 08:31 PM
just so you guys know....cometic also makes MHG for Cosworth


i got the cosworth gasket. it has a fire ring unlike the regular cometic and it has a layer that has folded edges which supposedy crushes better

nsr- stock is 1.0mm

went with the 1.1 gasket.. what should i torque it to? the cometic had tq specs which were pretty signifigantly higher than fsm spec.. this has no specs with it and i cant find anything on their website