Has anyone had problems reusing cometic headgasket with copper spray?

[Driftzenki]

so i trew a couple rocker arms, bent a valve and had to remove the sr20det head on my s14, i had just build the head about three months prior when this happened, so i cleaned the block and head really good with a wire brush, sprayed the copper spray on the old cometic head gasket and now im pushing coolant out my reservoir, would a new gasket suffice or should i deck the block and head again..any feedback would help

[Driftwire]

If you still have a leak i would probably deck it again. Reusing an old gasket is normally okay as long as its in good shape. Plenty of people reused with copper spray and have no issues, others have issues. Its an issue that some people will agree others wont.

Are you getting a lot of air in your reservoir causing the water to bubble out? Maybe bleed the system really well.. Jack up the front of the car slightly and let it run with a funnel filled and let it bleed real good.

Also is everything torqued down to spec?

Let us know on any progress you make.

Im in Boca Raton if you need any local help from anyone let me know.

[racepar1]

Run a straight edge over the block and head and check if they're straight. If they are try a new headgasket. Don't spend money without actually DIAGNOSING the issue. If the block and head have already been decked, and there was no headgasket issue that caused you to remove the head in the first place, then I would suspect that the gasket is the issue. I, personally, would NEVER re-use a headgasket unless I had no choice (like at the racetrack).

[Driftzenki]

thats what i was thinking..i was going to do a leak down test on each cylinder and see on which cylinder i get bubbles on my reservoir..if i get bubbles on all cylinders i probably have a warped block or head..if i get on only one cylinder its probably the gasket..before i trew a rocker i didnt have this issue..i had just decked the head and my block was left completely stock with a nex cometic..after i reused it i started having problems..what i dont want is to take out the motor just for a gasket..if i take out the motor im going to have to build the bottom end..and you guys know thats not cheap if you do it right..thats my dilemma

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Using any mls gasket requires very fine finishes of the surfaces as well as straightness. I usually try for an RA35 finish, a wire brush may have roughed up the surface of the head and or block too much on one or more cylinders. I have reused many mls headgaskets on basic rebuilds that hadn't blown with no issues.

[ForeignMuscle]

I've heard mixed reviews on the Cometic so honestly I would trash it and buy something better.

I have reused my Apex 4 times with ARP's torquing it down and I have had no problems. I do not use copper spray either.

Was your oil pump decked with your block? I'm willing to bet if your block, oil pump, and head were clearanced properly that the head gasket is the problem.

[Driftzenki]

i never decked my block only the head and installed a new cometic gasket..and never had any problems with it like that..i started having problems after i reused the cometic with copper spray..i have a feeling its the gasket aswell

[nismostate]

resused cometic with copper spray and it's been 2 years with no issue... yet
its a track car that rarely sees the streets so not many miles on the motor. just harsh beatings