Choosing head gasket for my KA-T

[kylexxkyle]

This is my first engine build and I'm in a little over my head but I'm learning as i go. I am having trouble picking the right HG. I am building a KA-T and have super tech pistons 10.5:1 with eagle rods, arp studs, fully built head and got the head decked. I don't know exactly how much they decked the head but it was not extreme. I am planning on shooting for around 400 hp and have been looking at metal head gaskets. Help would be appreciated.

[Chris28]

Can't go wrong with Cosworth.

[rbs14kouki]

Cosworth is always a good choice


On my friend s14 ka-t with 390whp 410trq
We run a stock head gasket with o-rings in the block ... allmost two year of dayli driving and drifting nights !!! Still going strong

[kylexxkyle]

But as far as thickness would you recommend going thicker than stock with a shaved head and 10.5:1 compression pistons?

[rbs14kouki]

Just go thicker / safer and you will never have to look back

[beavis360]

+1 for Cosworth HG but the block and head should be confirmed flat by the machine shop.

There are plenty of people running the felpro for under 400hp goals.

With that said, a turbo application at 10.5 is going to be a harsher environment in the chamber, people usually drop compression for turbo. The thicker HG will knock off a bit of compression which might be desired.

I've only heard of people running 10.5 pistons on e85 engines, is that what you'll be running?

[waxball88]

Felpro, 3 years, 20psi, just dynod 400whp
Current new build is getting a cosworth

[XMcEvilson]

you got wrong compression ratio pistons for your goals

[Sleepiedaze]

running 10 pds of boost on a KA with OEM gaskets. tryed cosworth and they failed, did the cosmic aluminum crap and that failed. OEM all the way.

[waxball88]

running 10 pds of boost on a KA with OEM gaskets. tryed cosworth and they failed, did the cosmic aluminum crap and that failed. OEM all the way.

Then the issue was not with the parts it was with you either cheating out on machining. Or installing incorrectly

[Razi]

Probably had a surface that wasn't smooth enough for a metal gasket.
Cosworth will always lap the block and head until it becomes incredibly smooth.

[Sleepiedaze]

Then the issue was not with the parts it was with you either cheating out on machining. Or installing incorrectly


been building motors since i was 17 so ehh. just telling you from personal experience.

[Razi]

Here's a good article on lapping engines written by Eric Hsu, a man who's worked at Cosworth for many years:

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/1184/Deck-Preparation.aspx

[BoostSlideWayz]

Im personally on a ka24e i built. Arais pistons, eagle rods, lots of machine work including having my cyls bored just slightly beyond stock. Making it somewhere in the 2.4/.5 basically 2.5 and i've been running the stock head gasket for years. I peak around 16 psi before fuel cut. Never had to change it since i built the engine and never had any steam issues besides the usual warm up in cold weather type steam.

Car has been reliable and running strong.

Stock head gaskets usually are very durable. But then again with 400+ hp youll probably want an upgraded multi layer steel head gasket.

Also, are you planning on running E85 with that compression ratio ? If you plan on unleaded fuel ( pump gas ) your going to blow through just about any upgraded head gasket you buy.