deMideon Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 Still having cooling problems... but it looks like there is oil in the coolant. I believe I may have a head gasket leak ( cause I really don't want a cracked block or head!), I am using grumpies recommendation for head gasket.. SCE .021 thickness. I have retorked the heads. I had the heads checked for flatness before I put them on. I am just wondering if with the thinness of the gasket if it just isn't sealing well. Not entirley sure where to go with this next. There are no composite gaskets thin enough for my application either. Pete or Grumpy ... if you read this, how thick can I go quench wise, on 93 octane gas... maybe even pushing it a little? Or is there a better way to help seal the head gaskets? I did use the spray copper gasket sealer before I installed them. Maybe I should go with ARP studs so I can get higher torque down pressure? Here's my setup again. 400 block bored 40 over stock deck height Scat 9000 crank, 400 mains, internally balanced, 3.5" stroke for 6" rods Scat 6" I beam rods w/7/16" bolts Keith Black 194 pistons 10.7:1 w/64cc heads Canfield heads - 59.2 cc chambers Crane - 114681 cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 I am not sure what head gaskets you are using but you want to keep your quench area at 36-40 thousandths. You are running .021 gaskets and pistons with stock deck height should be in the hole .017, so you are at .038. Are using a good quality head gasket say Felpro 1003 or a Fererra performance type? The crappy gasket kits they sell at Autozone/O'reilly's etc. suck they are for low compression stock motors. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deMideon Posted April 29, 2005 Author Share Posted April 29, 2005 I'm running the copper, SCE .021 headgasket... I don't think Felpro makes a .021 gasket for the SBC 400 do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zfan Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 Nope my bad! I didn't read it well enough I guess. I have a buddy who runs the copper sce gaskets your talking about but I believe it is on his 350. Tomorrow we are installing his 400 sbc in his Healy monster. I believe he is still running that type gasket but more like .040 or .050 to help with compression. Copper gaskets with the spray/sealant are suppose to be great. That said I hope it is something cheap and easy like the need for a new gasket. Best of luck. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deMideon Posted April 30, 2005 Author Share Posted April 30, 2005 Thanks! Me too! Maybe there is a better spray than I used! I'll have to see what SCE recommends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deMideon Posted May 2, 2005 Author Share Posted May 2, 2005 bounce... still need to find a good thin head gasket I can get to seal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted May 2, 2005 Share Posted May 2, 2005 I was getting oil in my coolant a while back, turned out to be a bad intake manifold gasket. Good luck in any case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 77vegasz Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 I run a Felpro .015 steel shim head gasket. It has sealer already on it. I used it to help raise compression. I have had them on for a bout 18 months and no problems. I got mine from Jegs. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deMideon Posted May 4, 2005 Author Share Posted May 4, 2005 Thanks! I'll keep it in mind... I just ttook apart the engine and found that 3 of my pistons are cracked at the rings.. so I have a lot to figure out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 Did you also have the decks of the block checked for flatness? I have heard from several folks that those copper gaskets are terrible unless all mating surfaces are absolutely perfect!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deMideon Posted May 5, 2005 Author Share Posted May 5, 2005 I didn't have it decked when I first had it built... but I plan to now. I think my engine builder did not do the proper ring end gap and it broke the pistons. The KB hyper pistonms I used need more of a gap than normal. I am going to use the Mr Gasket Ultra seal head gasket Pete mentioned in one of his posts (I think!) but that means I will have to get the block decked by about .020 to get the quench righ since the ultra gasket is .038 thick. Damn but I'm glad I pulled the engine apart right now... never would have found the piston problem before it caused serious damage!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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