BRAD D Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Just the other night a friend of mine asked me if I could make a copper Dodge Neon head gasket. So I thought that I could draw it up on AutoCAD and then get it water jet or laser cut. Any input on this what type of copper, thickness, and if this will work? Would people want one for the L28?? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 I like one that would fit a L28 that has a bore of 89mm. Those HKS and Nissan head gaskets for a 3.1 liter stroker are getting expensive (~$150). Do your homework on using copper head gaskets. There are a few companies that make them (but not for any L6 Nissan motors). Copper head gaskets are very resistance to damage as a result of increased cylinder pressure, but they do not seal water or oil passages well. The copper head gaskets should be annealed before use. You can use 0.030 or 0.040 thickness copper for a head gasket. Of course, a thicker gasket can be used, but it gets more difficult to fabricate and of course more expensive. I do plan on making a L-series intake/exhaust gasket from copper, as you do not have the oil or water sealing problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD D Posted August 22, 2003 Author Share Posted August 22, 2003 Thanks for the info. I'll be reading up on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 Brad, This is just the way I think, but I think of a head gasket as a fuse. You know the old saying in electronics "fuse it or lose it", well to me the same goes for an engine. If something was to go wrong (KA-BLAMO!), I would rather have a head gasket blow than the engine. You start using copper gaskets and your fuse is pretty much non-existent. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 Head gaskets are NOT fuses and are not intended to be. I've broke 4 pistons from detonation through the years but have never blown a HG. This is how false information gets spread.,Then you have people feeling safe thinking there HG will protect them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 Foregot to ad [/url]http://www.scegaskets.comhttp:// "Here is the mail message they sent me.... Thank you for the interest in our head gaskets. Yes we do offer a copper head gasket for the Nissan L6 for the Z. The bores we offer are 87.3 mm and 88.9 mm. I don't have an 88 mm bore punch. The thickness' available are, ..032"-.043"-.050"-.062"-.080".093". " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD D Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 I also know a guy that uses a head gasket as a fuse. I guess if some one else makes them i will not bother. But i might still make one for the neon. How much dose http://www.scegaskets.com want for that copper head gasket for the L28?? My bud might be getting a water jet so might beable to make it cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 Head gaskets are NOT fuses and are not intended to be. I've broke 4 pistons from detonation through the years but have never blown a HG. This is how false information gets spread.,Then you have people feeling safe thinking there HG will protect them. Clifton, chill out. I said: This is just the way I think... I'm not spreading false information, just giving my opinion. Every one of the turbo Buick guys I hang around with think of the head gasket a a fuse also. We use stock GM head gaskets properly torqued down, even in high hp engines. In all honesty, what would you rather have fail, a head gasket or 4 pistons? Blowing a head gasket rarely happens if you know what you're doing, but sh!t happens. We are also talking about turbo to N/A cars here as far as I know. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted August 24, 2003 Share Posted August 24, 2003 [ Clifton, chill out. I said: This is just the way I think... I'm not spreading false information, just giving my opinion. Every one of the turbo Buick guys I hang around with think of the head gasket a a fuse also. We use stock GM head gaskets properly torqued down, even in high hp engines. In all honesty, what would you rather have fail, a head gasket or 4 pistons? Blowing a head gasket rarely happens if you know what you're doing, but sh!t happens. We are also talking about turbo to N/A cars here as far as I know. !M! I don't know why you are saying "chill out", I was just giving my opinion. In 14 yrs of having turbo Z cars I don't think 4 pistons is that bad considering how close to the edge I run the timing and boost. I am just saying fuses have a known limit, HG's don't and instalation would greatly effect it's performance as a fuse. A HG that would blow just before a cast piston would break would be too unreliable. 7MGTE's are notorious for blowing HG's but there are still people breaking pistons without loosing the HG. This is what the knock sensor was designed to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 Clifton, We think two different ways, for us to continue with more posts would be pointless to all others here on HybridZ. If you like, you can e-mail me and continue or we can just agree to disagree. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 240hybrid Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 This is starting to sound like zcar.com....had to say it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD D Posted August 25, 2003 Author Share Posted August 25, 2003 Is it a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 240hybrid Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 Just kidding with ya guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 We don't need to agree, people have different idea's on things and this is head gasket related. It is related to the post and a benifit to some. I felt it was just a disscussion. I will not post another comment on it though as you feel it is pointless to others. Take care. Clifton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 Clifton, Going off your first post, I thought you were pissed off with my view on the head gasket. Just read your post again. I really have nothing else to add to this discussion other than what I've stated already. This is starting to sound like zcar.com....had to say it. Oh, heck no! I thought this was going to get ugly, so I said we could take it off the board if he wanted to. I sure don't want to get a warning or banned from this place. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 240hybrid Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 I was just fooling with ya ....I have read a few very heated discussions on that board and was just poking fun. zcar.com is a good site and there is descent info., but there are a few over sensitive people that can start fuming very easily on that board also. I should have kept my mouth shut, as I didn't contribute any useful info. on the topic. though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 This is an OLD thread!!! I just was looking at this website: http://www.headgasket.com/faq.html so I did a search on HybridZ and resurrected this thread. Wow, Clifton and Mat73 were about to blow a gasket!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katman Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 I had several made for our ITS car by Richard Clark Gaskets in Blaine MN. Several thicknesses available. I gave him permission to use my drawing if he ever had another Z customer. Worked a whole race season on one engine with no problems. Couldn't make it work on another engine. In our case we needed control over the gasket volume so we could push the rule limits on compression ratio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 http://www.scegaskets.com/ http://www.scegaskets.com/products/procopphd.html these are the guys I buy MY head gaskets from (summit racing sells them also) http://www.scegaskets.com" www.scegaskets.com look under, catalog, chevy head gaskets) I have been useing SOLID COPPER HEAD GASKETS for years with aluminum heads on iron blocks (WITHOUT (O)rings) If your surfaces are strait and true and you correctly install them they work fine, now keep in mind that you MUST run high concentrations of anti-freeze and an anode in the radiator sure does not hurt to prevent electrolosis from causeing problems but I have never yet lost a head gasket and that includes nitrous use on several engines. now they sure are not your only option but they are a good one. btw I totally clean and degrease the block deck and head surfaces then spray the head gasket wet with COPPER COAT GASKET SPRAY on both sides then install them tacky wet and torque them down in 5LB stages to factory spec http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml?CATID=5131&BQ=jcw2" http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml?CATID=5131&BQ=jcw2 RADIATOR CORROSION INHIBITOR Prevents overheated radiators caused by rust, scale and corrosion. Save money on needless flushing, repairs, anti-freeze changes, special additives! Zinc anode slips in radiator filler neck and neutralizes rust/corrosion-causing chemicals. Lasts for years. NOTE: Not for radiators with plastic tanks. http:// http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?9780 http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?792 http://www.radcapproducts.com/order.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Wow, I must have been having a rough couple of days. I seriously don't even remember posting to this. Sorry Clifton! As far as what I stated above, I no longer consider headgaskets as a fuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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