p76rangie Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Like I said, that argument has been done before. You do not *have* to skim the heads, you do not *have* to use tin gaskets with 14-bolt heads, you *can* use composite gaskets if you want. I've done it, it was fine, no-one died, let's not get all het up about it eh? I have put composite gaskets on 14 bolt heads before and yes no one died. But I later corrected the situation and the change in performance was very noticeable. A motor will run at a compression ratio of 7 to 1, but no that well. But people that make this mistake are usually fixing something on the motor that was making it run even worse and get an improvement over what they had, but not what they should have. You did not answer as to how you know how his motor is high compression. It is people saying that fitting composite gaskets to 14 bolt heads is OK that requires these discussions to take place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8david Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 If I could just cut into this minor altercation for a minute... Just to say the Elring gaskets arrived and I fitted them yesterday. I see what people mean now by the quality, they were/are bloody lovely. Anyway, I've had two further long oil pump sessions with the drill and everything seems to be fine, head gasket areas are lovely and bone dry, and clean! Just what I always wanted.... I shall consult my engine number tomorrow and try to find this compression ratio number. For the record, this is my second set (third set counting the sh*te I've just pulled off) of composite head gaskets. I bought the car with 32k miles on the clock with the original tin head gaskets which had no issues or leaks. I put a new cam (standard) in a couple of years ago and thought I'd do the head gaskets while I was down there. Nothing really needed doing but I did it because I found it interesting. This time around I took the engine out because I needed to replace core plugs, including the ones at the back of the block. Again I thought 'while it's out I might as well'... So I replaced all the bearings, had things checked, had bores honed, crank polished etc. etc., new rings, even had new cam bearings fitted. Again, nothing really needed doing (apart from the core plugs) but it was interesting and enjoyable. And now I know exactly the state of the engine and how badly beautifully it's been put back together. My point is I never noticed any difference or drop in performance when I changed from tin to composite. It just drove like it's always driven, i.e. a 3.5 Efi, leisurely take off but gets there eventually. What I don't want are any leaks and drips, service her once a year, and fix bits where necessary as they go. As has been mentioned, this compression doom has been talked and talked about many, many times before and when deciding to fit the composite gaskets I read extensively into the pros and cons.The 40 thou figure you quote is also quoted in the 'How to Power Tune a Rover V8' book, another thing I purchased and read during my research. I took all these arguments into account, as well as reading excellent threads like BBC's V8 build on this forum and took the plunge and went for the composite. They are not leaking, I am now happy The heads I have used are new to me, from a 4.2, made in June 93 according to the stamp on the side. Whilst they are not the reduced CC, recessed valves and thickness of the later heads made for composite gaskets, they have the hooded valve stem seals which was my primary aim. They have been skimmed and the valves re-cut and re-ground and during assembly all the lifter preloads were/are fine. As I said I now know my engine and I am happy, and that's all I wanted from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 David, that sounds like a really great result, well done, glad you are finally happy with the engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 ........ I took all these arguments into account, as well as reading excellent threads like BBC's V8 build on this forum ........ is that autocorrect meddling with the abbreviation HFH? or is it a thread I missed? genuinely curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8david Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 Thanks Bowie, and thanks for all the help and suggestions. Hi CwazyWabbit, no not HFH, though his V8 porn thread is brilliant (if not totally and utterly out of the league of what I'm doing!), I meant BBC as in Ian 'Bull Bar Cowboy'. His thread I followed ages ago, pictures have gone now but it's still great. Here: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=14006&st=0 I didn't spend anywhere near as much time or take as much care as him but it's an interesting and inspirational read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Cheers David I shall have a read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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