Head Gasket Ruling

StockerRook · 11-23-2010, 06:16 PM

Quick Question guys and Gals.

Building a 96 LT1 350 c.i. 275 HP SBC

NHRA specs say the deck clearance is .015 and the head gasket is .047, that gives us a total of .062.

If my piston only sits in the hole .010, can i hypothetically put a .052 gasket to make up the difference?

Does any combination of .062, deck clearance amd gasket make me legal?

Trying to finish this short block and get this heap running as soon as possible. Thanks in advance and sorry if this has been questioned before. Happy thanksgiving to all!

tim worner · 11-23-2010, 06:30 PM

Zero deck and a .062 gasket is fine.

Tom Turner · 11-23-2010, 06:34 PM

Yes. Any combo is OK. The least expensive method is .023 down and a Fel Pro race gasket (.039) but Cometic will make you any thickness you desire. I have never run the piston out of the hole because it was not legal in the past but I understand that it is OK now. There is merit to this approach but I haven't gone there yet. TT

art leong · 11-23-2010, 06:41 PM

You might want to leave a couple of thousanths extra. A couple of thousanths extra won't make you a lot slower. But one thousanth to little gets you a real quick trip home.

Dave Ribeiro · 11-23-2010, 06:54 PM

Art,
Very good advice , you beat me to the punch ... We all remember when it's too late ( In teardown )... Better to be safe than sorry ....

StockerRook · 11-23-2010, 07:11 PM

Thanks for the clarification gentlemen. Yeah, i like the idea of being a little safe and allowing a thou or two extra. I'll do exactly that. Appreciate it much. HAppy Thanksgiving

Chris H

11-23-2010, 06:16 PM	#1
StockerRook Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 36 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Head Gasket Ruling Quick Question guys and Gals. Building a 96 LT1 350 c.i. 275 HP SBC NHRA specs say the deck clearance is .015 and the head gasket is .047, that gives us a total of .062. If my piston only sits in the hole .010, can i hypothetically put a .052 gasket to make up the difference? Does any combination of .062, deck clearance amd gasket make me legal? Trying to finish this short block and get this heap running as soon as possible. Thanks in advance and sorry if this has been questioned before. Happy thanksgiving to all!

11-23-2010, 06:30 PM	#2
tim worner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: duncannon Posts: 837 Likes: 14 Liked 126 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Head Gasket Ruling Zero deck and a .062 gasket is fine. __________________ Tim Worner SS 1747

11-23-2010, 06:34 PM	#3
Tom Turner Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lake Tapps, Washington Posts: 137 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Head Gasket Ruling Yes. Any combo is OK. The least expensive method is .023 down and a Fel Pro race gasket (.039) but Cometic will make you any thickness you desire. I have never run the piston out of the hole because it was not legal in the past but I understand that it is OK now. There is merit to this approach but I haven't gone there yet. TT

11-23-2010, 06:41 PM	#4
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Head Gasket Ruling You might want to leave a couple of thousanths extra. A couple of thousanths extra won't make you a lot slower. But one thousanth to little gets you a real quick trip home. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

11-23-2010, 06:54 PM	#5
Dave Ribeiro VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsburg, Va.---USA Posts: 1,827 Likes: 1,612 Liked 56 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Head Gasket Ruling Art, Very good advice , you beat me to the punch ... We all remember when it's too late ( In teardown )... Better to be safe than sorry .... __________________ Dave Ribeiro 1033 STK

11-23-2010, 07:11 PM	#6
StockerRook Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 36 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Head Gasket Ruling Thanks for the clarification gentlemen. Yeah, i like the idea of being a little safe and allowing a thou or two extra. I'll do exactly that. Appreciate it much. HAppy Thanksgiving Chris H