SB Head Gasket recommendations

[Kid_Again]

I'm installing a Vortech supercharger on the '65 and will swap in new aluminum heads at the same time. I'll use moderate boost (8psi max) and would appreciate your recommendations on which gasket to use.

In addition, what's your adivce on the most appropriate heads to buy. The engine has the stock domed pistons and with my current Iron Eagle ~70cc heads, static cmpression is less than 9.5:1. My requirements are to keep the combustion chamber size in the ~70's range and get the largest valves possible. Intake runner length, I know is important so I would like to increase that into the 210/215cc class. I like the AFRs but they are 64cc heads. JEGS' entry level aluminum head looks pretty decent. Oh, I also need straight plugs but let me know if you think angled plugs will clear my hedman headers.

I'm going to aluminum to gain that extra protection against detonation.

Thanks

 

[BarryK]

would appreciate your recommendations on which gasket to use.

I would recommend the kind that keeps the liquid stuff on the inside from leaking to the outside........

sorry man, I just couldn't resist!
Just in one of those moods today I guess.

 

[Kid_Again]

..or the kind that keeps the vacuous stuff on the outside

 

[WayneC]

The ones I've seen recommended:

1. if the head and block surfaces aren't being refinished, Felpro #1003 (expensive) composition gaskets, or Summit #FPP-2802 in kit form with intake gaskets.

2. if the head and block surfaces ARE being refinished, Felpro #1024 "coated shim" gaskets.

 

[Kid_Again]

Many thanks, WyneC!

 

[Mac]

Have you considered having the heads 'o-ringed' by machine shop?

-Mac

 

[Kid_Again]

Mac:

Do you think that will make a difference with my proposed setup? I am going to a mild boost (max 8psi) but from what I've read, for such a street engine, I should be OK.

Thoughts?

 

[Mac]

Mac:

Do you think that will make a difference with my proposed setup? I am going to a mild boost (max 8psi) but from what I've read, for such a street engine, I should be OK.

Thoughts?

I must admit that I tend to deliberately over-engineer to avoid problems.

Forced induction, regardless whether turbo or supercharger, produces chamber pressures well above the normal specifications for which most gaskets are designed. In all likelihood, a good quality composite gasket will be up to the task... If you're not willing to take the chance, the new aluminum heads are fresh & clean... real easy to get the o-rings done now and eliminate one worry.

-Mac

 

[bossvette]

the new aluminum heads are fresh & clean... real easy to get the o-rings done now and eliminate one worry.

-Mac

I'll bet you can get that done by the Mfg.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Have you contacted Vortech to see what they recommend? They have been doing this a long time and I'm sure they know everything that works and also what doesn't work.

Tom

 

[Kid_Again]

Good advice all around. Thanks. Yup, will call Vortech also.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

...572

 

[Kid_Again]

...how about a 572, .090 over with nitrous?

...I'll only get one run, but just enough to coast into your driveway, which is just about as far as I get with the small block anyway...which reminds me, I need to tell the story about Advance Auto Parts this weekend but I digress..

So, I called Vortech and it's plain that there are JUST TOO MANY LAWYERS IN THIS COUNTRY. They were as helpful as they could be, no problems with that. I 'splained that I'm going from a 327/0.030 with cast iron 72cc heads with a static CR of ~9.1 to their supercharger but adding aluminum 74cc heads. Any recommendations on things like grooving the cylinder heads, etc? He said they really can't make any recommendations, that I should check with my local speed shop (yeah, if i could FIND one that I could TRUST) and that most of their customers stay with the stock setup.....but just make sure everything up top is fresh. Which is what I'm doing. But then again, I have time.

Time to digress (hopefully not as far as "THE LOUNGE"). So, went from OCNJ to an Advance Auto Parts place roughly halfway between my house and VNV's. Took the big block, which had the identical wiring cut in as the small block (head light relays, master cutout switch and some miscellaneous moving of wires around to make it look almost as good as Mark's car. Ran great. Made a few stops before Advance. Song in my heart, girls in their bikinis.

Went to fire it up at Advance after making my purchase (brake shoes for the CR-V) and the ignition just goes >CLICK< Oh great, no solenoid sound, nothing. SOUNDS like a dead battery but I just tested it a few weeks before with a load tester and it has LOTS of life. Oddly, the power to the clock comes back on after a few minutes. Something too hot? Circuit breaker? Partially blown fuse? Aliens?

Had to be something to do with the wiring that I cut in, previously...had to. Of course, I did not have a set of sockets in the car (don't ask) and had to buy them there. They lent me a floor jack, which was nice. I was NOT going to call VNV this time. So, I tighten up the #2 cable butt end that goes to the starter solenoid. A little loose but I didn't think that would be the problem. The only other relevent cut that I made was to tidy up some of the wiring and attach the connectors to an insulated post and all that powered just the MSD and radio. That was not particularly loose but not real tight so I really cranked down on it. Fired right up afterwards.

Musta' been some kind of feedback problem to the ignition switch. I dunno.

What did I learn from this? I shoulda' asked one of the ladies for a ride to VNV's place, that's what I shoulda done.

 

[WayneC]

Sounds like a bad battery cable connection, or the dreaded firewall harness connection issue.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Well...what I would suggest is to keep the compression ratio as close to 9:1 as you can. Just remember..you'll be running 90% of the time unsupercharged.

The only time the motor will see boost is when your at WOT and air flow in the intake slows down. This will cause the Blower to pressurize the intake.
You'll be cruzen around with vacuum most of the time.

My blown 86 only showed boost on the gauge when I lugged it and stepped down on the pedal or went WOT. And even at WOT..it took time for the supercharger to get up enough RPM to start moven the gauge to the preseure side.

I think all your gonna be concerened with is Spark advance and fuel flow issues. As far as heads go..that's up to you..what ever floats your boat. If you improve the air flow to the motor then that's a plus.

 

[Kid_Again]

Gotcha' VNV. Yup, I'll also go for the MSD distributor with the can, tach drive and adjustable mechanical advance. Which is what I have on the bb. Now, this will allow me to change distributor springs on the Black Horse Pike at midnight. Sure, why not.

WayneC....good thought. I clean those connectors every year, new dash and engine compartment harnesses and moving those buggers did NOTHING for me in the parking lot.

Well, if that's the way the boost is going to work, then i'll HAVE TO HAVE MY FOOT IN IT ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALLRIGHTY NOW

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Well, if that's the way the boost is going to work, then i'll HAVE TO HAVE MY FOOT IN IT ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALLRIGHTY NOW

Also ...there is pressure at the carb throttel plates from the blower. But...not enough to pressurize the intake at high manifold vacumm. Think of it this way... at 15Hg's or so..the air is zoomen down the intake. The blower is pushing air in but not faster then the motor intake.

When you open the plates the vacuum drops and the air movement slows. When you hit the point of blower rpm and boost pressure it will overcome the vacuum and pressureize the intake and cyl.

When I would jump on my 86 at around 2700 rev's (WOT) the blower would come on fast and I could watch the boost go up. You will also notice it as you climb a steep incline or hill. By just keeping your foot in the same place on the go pedel..you will hit a point where the boost will come on all by it's self and power you up over the hill.

I know you'll have fun .. The first two weeks with my supercharger on the 86 ..I almost killed my self 2 times. I finally chilled out.:L

 

[Tom Bryant]

Re: starter problem

It sounds like you may have a heat soak problem. Do you have a heat shield on the starter?

 

[Kid_Again]

It sounds like you may have a heat soak problem. Do you have a heat shield on the starter?

No, I don't. Hmmmm. I am running sp headers. OK, what's a few bucks more to SummitJegs with all that I've spent so far. Very good thought.