advice on head gasket - Skyline Owners Club

**ghouluk** · 8th May 2008, 11:54 AM

Hi folks,

I've done a search on here, and while i can find lots of information on when and how to upgrade the head gasket, i can't find out what i should be upgrading it with/to

any advice on thickness i should go for? and brand ? or is it gasket = gasket much of a muchness

turbo is just being rebuilt completely (bigger impeller, bigger compresser wheels, steel shaft, new bearings and remachining to suit) and i have a FMIC, improved plugs, GTR injectors and uprated fuel pump going on now together with replacement ECU and mapping to suit....aiming to end up about the 400 mark

any advice gratefully recieved

cheers

rob

**Little Kez** · 8th May 2008, 11:57 AM

dad has had two so far (due to rebuilds) we allways went for HKS metal gasket, 1.6mm or the 1.8mm thickness

**Moff** · 8th May 2008, 12:33 PM

It depends what you want from the car, generally the rule is the more boost you want to fun the bigger the head gasket.

Someone more teccy will know how to elaborate more..

**ghouluk** · 8th May 2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moff

It depends what you want from the car, generally the rule is the more boost you want to fun the bigger the head gasket.

Someone more teccy will know how to elaborate more..

yup - like i say, aiming for around the 400 mark, though wouldn't say no to more if it came along

**Jam** · 8th May 2008, 02:42 PM

I have a HKS Metal 1.6mm one fitted to mine, its till running stock power but its one less thing to do when I start playing again....

**Richf** · 8th May 2008, 04:20 PM

You dont "need" to change the headgasket for 400hp

By fitting a thicker headgasket you are removing compression and replacing the compression with boost in other words removing low end power and adding top end power. You may well end up with a bigger peak hp figure but the car will accelerate slower

IMO With a stock rebuilt turbo its better to stick with the stock HG the turbo is more or less maxxed out at 400hp anyway , if you go the bigger tubbie route then yes change the HG

**simon** · 8th May 2008, 11:46 PM

it is a relatively *lazy* tuning option to stick a bigger gasket in there to allow more boost to be run, which in turns gives more power.

however compression ratio is part of the balance of your engine and dropping it can seriously affect off boost performance.

I would always advise to run the thinnest gasket you can get away with for the compression ratio you need for your engine.

Simon

**Tescotrucker** · 9th May 2008, 10:49 AM

Mine ran 400+ Bhp on the std. head gasket(1.2bar),and i had no problems with it blowing.AndyW used to worry though

**Richf** · 9th May 2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tescotrucker

Mine ran 400+ Bhp on the std. head gasket(1.2bar),and i had no problems with it blowing.AndyW used to worry though

He worries too much

I've ran peaks of 1.45bar with mine without problem*

*runs off to touch wood

**Moff** · 9th May 2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tescotrucker

Mine ran 400+ Bhp on the std. head gasket(1.2bar),and i had no problems with it blowing.AndyW used to worry though

Poor Andy, he is like the Skyline Carer..

Might try 2 bar through mine then

**Tescotrucker** · 9th May 2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moff

Poor Andy, he is like the Skyline Carer..

Might try 2 bar through mine then

Thar she blows!!

8th May 2008, 11:54 AM	#1
ghouluk Skyline Owners Club Club Member Membership No. 769 Join Date: May 2008 Location: odiham County: Hampshire Posts: 93	advice on head gasket Hi folks, I've done a search on here, and while i can find lots of information on when and how to upgrade the head gasket, i can't find out what i should be upgrading it with/to any advice on thickness i should go for? and brand ? or is it gasket = gasket much of a muchness turbo is just being rebuilt completely (bigger impeller, bigger compresser wheels, steel shaft, new bearings and remachining to suit) and i have a FMIC, improved plugs, GTR injectors and uprated fuel pump going on now together with replacement ECU and mapping to suit....aiming to end up about the 400 mark any advice gratefully recieved cheers rob

8th May 2008, 12:33 PM	#3
Moff SNOW !!! :) Area Rep Membership No. 105 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wokingham / Ulm Germany County: Berkshire Drives: 33 GTS-t Spec 2, Stagea, Clio Posts: 7,289	It depends what you want from the car, generally the rule is the more boost you want to fun the bigger the head gasket. Someone more teccy will know how to elaborate more..
	__________________ Coming in 2009 after winter Hiberation for the car, Carbon, Cage, New Seats Car Meets in BERKS

8th May 2008, 02:42 PM	#5
Jam Driftu Crashu!! Club Member Membership No. 559 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wellingborough County: Northamptonshire Drives: Ranger Rover 4.6, R33 GTST and R33 GTST S1 (splitting), Posts: 1,414	I have a HKS Metal 1.6mm one fitted to mine, its till running stock power but its one less thing to do when I start playing again....
	__________________ XBOX 360 TAG - RB25 BABY PS3 TAG - JDM_BABEE "UNDERSTEER" is when you hit the fence with the front of the car. "OVERSTEER" is when you hit the fence with the rear of the car. "HORSEPOWER" is how fast you hit the fence. "TORQUE" is how far you take the fence with you.

8th May 2008, 04:20 PM	#6
Richf Skyline Owners Club Club Member Membership No. 688 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK County: Outside UK Drives: R33 GTST Posts: 3,479	You dont "need" to change the headgasket for 400hp By fitting a thicker headgasket you are removing compression and replacing the compression with boost in other words removing low end power and adding top end power. You may well end up with a bigger peak hp figure but the car will accelerate slower IMO With a stock rebuilt turbo its better to stick with the stock HG the turbo is more or less maxxed out at 400hp anyway , if you go the bigger tubbie route then yes change the HG
	__________________ 12.8@116 (21/4/07) Stock engine, stock HG, Steel internal tubbie .......more to come

9th May 2008, 10:49 AM	#8
Tescotrucker Skyline Owners Club Club Member Membership No. 658 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Swindon County: Wiltshire Drives: Pug 106 non turbo diesel..used to be 409 bhp Skyline!!! Posts: 2,217	Mine ran 400+ Bhp on the std. head gasket(1.2bar),and i had no problems with it blowing.AndyW used to worry though
	__________________ 62MPG is no substitute for 409 BHP 13.1 Santa Pod July 2007

8th May 2008, 11:57 AM	#2
Little Kez Skyline Owners Club Club Member Membership No. 759 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Wales County: Gwynedd Drives: Mitsubishi Colt Posts: 1,827	dad has had two so far (due to rebuilds) we allways went for HKS metal gasket, 1.6mm or the 1.8mm thickness

8th May 2008, 11:46 PM	#7
simon Skyline Owners Club Club Member Membership No. 117 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nottingham County: Nottinghamshire Posts: 582	it is a relatively lazy tuning option to stick a bigger gasket in there to allow more boost to be run, which in turns gives more power. however compression ratio is part of the balance of your engine and dropping it can seriously affect off boost performance. I would always advise to run the thinnest gasket you can get away with for the compression ratio you need for your engine. Simon

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