Which head gasket for my built SR?

[uthemofo]

So gentleman I just got back from ASBV and it kicked ass, accept for the fact that my apexi head gasket popped. I need a new one, the motor has a built top end and just a rom tune. I am not sure either to go with a cosworth head gasket or another apexi or something entirely different.

Let me know what you guys think, and your expierences with different head gaskets. Thanks!

-Matt

[Matman03]

Matt, I am running 18psi on a cometic 1.2" Headgasket with ARP head studs and have had no problem at all. I also use their 3 layer gasket on the turbo manifold because I took a chunk out of the stock one from the pressure. Just my 2 cents

[Nduggs]

Matt, I am running 18psi on a cometic 1.2" Headgasket with ARP head studs and have had no problem at all. I also use their 3 layer gasket on the turbo manifold because I took a chunk out of the stock one from the pressure. Just my 2 cents

1.2 inch?! haha. +1 for a cometic headgasket.

Cometic 1.01mm Metal Head Gasket - Nissan SR20DET - Enjuku Racing (http://enjukuracing.com/cometic-101mm-metal-head-gasket-nissan-sr20det-p-6702.html?cPath=24_165)

[Geno750]

Apexi or power enterprise gasket are the only ones I see being used at Mazworx, I imagine they have a good reason for that.

[4sfed180]

Apexi or power enterprise gasket are the only ones I see being used at Mazworx, I imagine they have a good reason for that.

just because one business uses only one brand of parts doesnt mean anything. the reasoning behind it may be that they have a contract with them to push product and get it for a good price.

on the racing engines i have built we use ARP head studs and cometic head gasket. the atlantic 4age motors i worked on it was either trd or cometic gaskets as well.

[uthemofo]

I have heard good and bad things about cometic, I was under the impression that apexi was better, but doesn't seem like it to me so far. No replies on cosworth? keep em coming guys

[Geno750]

just because one business uses only one brand of parts doesnt mean anything. the reasoning behind it may be that they have a contract with them to push product and get it for a good price.

on the racing engines i have built we use ARP head studs and cometic head gasket. the atlantic 4age motors i worked on it was either trd or cometic gaskets as well.

I'm pretty sure after Mark explained to me that the cometic started to leak at 20something psi, and the cosworth started to leak in the 30psi range, but the powerenterprise and apexi gaskets never leaked, that his reasons were not just brand based.

[Z33dori]

cosworth...

mine has held up great.

[veilside180sx]

I'm pretty sure after Mark explained to me that the cometic started to leak at 20something psi, and the cosworth started to leak in the 30psi range, but the powerenterprise and apexi gaskets never leaked, that his reasons were not just brand based.

To my knowledge Mark has not tested a Cosworth.

PE, HKS, or Cosworth are the only ones I would put in a motor of mine. (FWIW I have a Cosworth in my built motor in the garage)

[Geno750]

To my knowledge Mark has not tested a Cosworth.

PE, HKS, or Cosworth are the only ones I would put in a motor of mine. (FWIW I have a Cosworth in my built motor in the garage)

I asked him about the cosworth back in August I think, when I was delivering my block to him, all he said was they leak at about the 750hp range or 30something psi. So for the majority of people, it should be a good gasket, the only reason I didn't go with one was they only made a gasket with an id of 87mm when I was in the market for one, and I am running a 87mm bore so that wouldn't work.

[DrIvEsldEwAyS]

ive ran cometic on my stock motor car with 400hp for 2 1/2 years and beat the shit out of it and it held up fine.

i got a cometic put on my built motor too.

+1 for cometic

[4sfed180]

I asked him about the cosworth back in August I think, when I was delivering my block to him, all he said was they leak at about the 750hp range or 30something psi. So for the majority of people, it should be a good gasket, the only reason I didn't go with one was they only made a gasket with an id of 87mm when I was in the market for one, and I am running a 87mm bore so that wouldn't work.

really? 750hp? i wanna see that motor. best of all i want to see, video preferred, of that fucker lasting more then 5 minutes of continuous running at redline. doubt that you or mark or anyone else can provide that. make sure you make those dyno pulls on an engine dyno because when that thing granades itself at least in a dyno room it wont hurt or kill anyone.

if you are truly thinking of running 30+psi of boost and that amount of horsepower the head gasket is of your least concern. i would suggest getting a custom crank made because the stock one, even though forged, will twist like a pretzel.

also do some research on motors running no head gaskets. all you use is sealing rings. you deck the block and the head. then counter bore the head and block. then install the rings. we have used that back in the day on REAL RACING engines for mexican grand prix.

[uthemofo]

guys not trying to make 750hp, just want a HG that can be beat on for hours at a time at track. Still not sure what ill get. apexi is suppose to be the shit, but for some reason my shitted out on me, go figure...

the powerenterprise head gasket doesnt look like it goes all the way around the timing chain area...is this ture? Most headgaskets go all the way around, what are you suppose to do if you get the powerenterprise?

[Geno750]

really? 750hp? i wanna see that motor. best of all i want to see, video preferred, of that fucker lasting more then 5 minutes of continuous running at redline. doubt that you or mark or anyone else can provide that. make sure you make those dyno pulls on an engine dyno because when that thing granades itself at least in a dyno room it wont hurt or kill anyone.

if you are truly thinking of running 30+psi of boost and that amount of horsepower the head gasket is of your least concern. i would suggest getting a custom crank made because the stock one, even though forged, will twist like a pretzel.

also do some research on motors running no head gaskets. all you use is sealing rings. you deck the block and the head. then counter bore the head and block. then install the rings. we have used that back in the day on REAL RACING engines for mexican grand prix.

What? I had trouble following 95% of what you just said. I will say you are wrong, the stock crank in the SR is awesome from the factory, so no pretzel making there.

YouTube - Mazworx Drag S15 Atco Elims (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTqGjjFu6d8)

Stock crank, since you wanted a video.

guys not trying to make 750hp, just want a HG that can be beat on for hours at a time at track. Still not sure what ill get. apexi is suppose to be the shit, but for some reason my shitted out on me, go figure...

the powerenterprise head gasket doesnt look like it goes all the way around the timing chain area...is this ture? Most headgaskets go all the way around, what are you suppose to do if you get the powerenterprise?

A lot of people I've met who drift their sr powered s chassis rock the apexi gaskets with very little failure, but if you want to save some money, I'd definitely go with the cosworth over the cometic gasket.

[4sfed180]

What? I had trouble following 95% of what you just said. I will say you are wrong, the stock crank in the SR is awesome from the factory, so no pretzel making there.

YouTube - Mazworx Drag S15 Atco Elims (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTqGjjFu6d8)

Stock crank, since you wanted a video.

what part didnt you understand?

heres the break down:
1. deck block
2. deck head
3. counter bore block and head...you know what THAT means right?
4. install sealing rings
5. use silicone to seal up water passages
6. bolt down the head
7. run 14.5:1 CR all season long with no issues :)

that video doesnt prove anything.

you just proved my point. its a drag car. it runs for 10 seconds or less and the chills for a while. show me a video of that motor running at full blast for an extended period of time.

the stock crank is a nice unit on the SR but not for that type of HP or length of time of abuse.

mazworks is a bunch or clowns. if any of them have an engineering degree then they put all of us in that profession to shame. its a bunch of guys that can physically make it fit and work. you really see them do any testing other then build it and then install it and see if it works? trial and error is not a good way to do R&D.

i have seen a lot of their projects. they have good ideas but improper execution on so many levels. i would rather take my time at the machine shop and build my own products, and know that they will work and be reliable, rather then see their build threads and buy stuff.

good example is their "300zx trans to SR20" adapter kit. if you really want a list why its wrong PM me. i can write another page on that alone.

so back to the thread. to the OP. youre not making crazy power. just get the cometic and call it a day. with ARP studs you wont have issues. just make sure to torque them properly. not like some people suggest in increments where you tighten then loosen them. there is no loosening stage with ARP. you simply tighten in stages and proper bolt sequence.

[Geno750]

Interesting points, I'm no engineer so I won't argue with you, and I'd be interested to hear your opinion's on their adapter kit in a pm like you said. All I can do is see what works for the majority of other people, and formulate a somewhat educated opinion.

Which goes back to my point to the op, that for a slight monetary difference (I think if you get the cosworth HG from XS Engineering its less than $20) you can get a gasket that has proven itself to seal slightly better than the cometic.

[nightshiftgarage]

i like my tomei gasket. held up good so far

[rxspeed7]

i have a cosworth on my high c/r sr with a gt26871rs and it has help up beautifully

[deukalionS14]

I just got a Tomei HG too it was recommended because it can handle the abuse.

I'll be home soon to put it to the test! only 18 to 20 psi with a GT2871r .64 though.

[EmmanuelTucay]

Cosworth 1.2 will be just fine

[LongGrain]

my vote goes to cosworth, love mine.

[GSXRJJordan]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned the reason his Apexi (which is one of the more trusted brands) HG blew...

It's not just about the gasket! It's about the head prep. Most people running stock-ish motors have the head decked, but just clean the block the best they can with it in the car - if you're having problems with good metal head gaskets popping, you need to look at the prep!

I know people that have had great success with the Cometic gasket, but they're the people that mirror-finish the block and head. Those that just "razor blade" the block don't have such good luck with it, although they have had good luck with PE/Apexi/HKS/Greddy/Tomei.


Oh, and if Mazworx is a bunch of clowns, what does that say about the rest of the tuning industry?

[Om1kron]

who knows, but i'm ready for christmas guys!

[jakerps13]

Please read this.

POWER ENTERPRISE USA (http://www.powerenterpriseusa.net/products/engine/gasket/gasket.html)


R&D usually is testing in real world form!

[4sfed180]

Please read this.

POWER ENTERPRISE USA (http://www.powerenterpriseusa.net/products/engine/gasket/gasket.html)


R&D usually is testing in real world form!

sounds all nice and good but i dont buy the "better flow efficiency" claim. unless you have a company that makes a gasket with hole size that is smaller then the hole in the head/block then you will have water flow issues. otherwise if water passage hole in the gasket are same size as in the block/head i dont see how their claim is worth a shit.

it some nice writing though. they hired a good marketing company to do the write-up for them :)

it is all in the prep work though. the best gasket with shitty prep work like a can of break clean and a razor blade will give you shit results. so...

[jakerps13]

it is all in the prep work though. the best gasket with shitty prep work like a can of break clean and a razor blade will give you shit results. so...

Exactly, most people don't understand this and end up blaming the gasket.

However, mazworxs explained the differences between headgaskets for me over on FA. Here ya go..

Cometic
http://www.powerenterpriseusa.net/products/engine/gasket/gasket_clip_image003.jpg

Tomei, Greddy, HKS, Cosworth
http://www.powerenterpriseusa.net/products/engine/gasket/gasket_clip_image002.jpg

PE, Apexi
http://www.powerenterpriseusa.net/products/engine/gasket/gasket_clip_image005.jpg

[steve shadows]

Apexi or power enterprise gasket are the only ones I see being used at Mazworx, I imagine they have a good reason for that.

Cometic is crap IMO - if you really push them they will fail

Power Ent and Apexi are the best- especially with the fire ring around the cylinder