What is the thinnest head gasket available for the 2.3?
Found an o-ring good for .032, but that would mean machining the head.
Race Engineering has an .027, but it's not listed on their website.
Watch that piston to head clearance. The minimum clearance allowable is .035. If the block has been decked measure how far the piston is in the hole then decide on how thin of a gasket you can get away with. Call Esslinger Engineering and talk it over with them 626-444-4919
pinto joe
I thought piston to head clearence was 0.030" but even at this I have seen conrod stretch enough to allow contact so I guess 0.035 would be safer
I talked to the engine builder upstream and he said you can run as low as .030 on the street, but better to go for .035 and usually recomends .040 on a race engine. I haven't touched the block, so I ought to have enough.
The felpro gasket has a .011 crush.
Quote from: stang2 on December 26, 2004, 04:09:49 AM
Whats the advantage of using thinner head gaskets?
The thinner the head gasket, the higher compression ratio. The thicker the gasket, the lower the compression ratio is.
Can you mill the head down? and if you can what is the right combination to use. how much off, and which head gasket?
I've milled .110 off which is almost to the intake bolt holes. I've heard of even going farther.
Cometic will make you whatever thickness you want...You can mill the head .150 pretty easy. this is about 12. to 1 when .000 deck heigth and open chamber head.. I usually run the pistons out of the block .010-.015 on billet rods. you can still go ..008-010 on stock rods and good bolts if your not going to turn to much more then 7500. I have one now out .022 but its has titanium rods and they dont stretch qwite as much.,J.D. Laramee