Oddjob

Whats the latest thoughts on using an O-ringed block for head gasket sealing?

I know of several guys/cars that have been done locally (by the local P-Car shop) for higher than stock boost track cars.

Options are a copper ring with a wide fire ring gasket or SS rings with a copper gasket.

Most of these are not monster motors, even just cars that are running stage II chips or equivalent (around 14-15 psi).

Ive certainly been around enough to have seen a lot of cars that have blown their head gaskets running chips at the track.

My application is track/race only and will potentially be running up to the 15 psi mark (around 280-300 flywheel bhp).

Necessary, helpful, or overkill?

Danno

As long as your air-fuel mixtures and ignition is safe, you can run just about any headgasket you want; even the stock one.

Oddjob

What are some of the engine builders with a national reputation doing, like Milledge or Powerhaus?

I spoke with a guy that bought a 944S2 Club Sport directly from Kelly Moss and an 87 Turbo Escort Car, through a 2nd party, that was owned/maintained by KMR. The Escort car was O-ringed. He stated that they (KMR) said it was the only way go on the 944 Turbos.

I know that the Escort cars had the reputation of blowing a lot of head gaskets when they were campaigned in the SCCA Endurance Series. Do the factory cup/escort chips have the tendancy of running lean?

Danno

"Do the factory cup/escort chips have the tendancy of running lean?"

Only if you have boost-mods that holds max-boost to redline.... Even the Cup/Escort cars have a dropping boost-curve, even though it holds max-boost longer than the 220bhp stock cars.

You can't really look at it as if it's the "chips" that are "running lean", like you can single one components or another. It's the entire combination of parts, the total sum of all the parts that should be examined. If you have a "running lean" system, then you can examine the turbo, the wastegate, the boost-controller, vacuum lines, exhaust, air-filter, and maybe the chips, as the possible contributors to the "running lean" issue. Any one of those parts can create a "running lean" condition.

Alan C.

I've run a 375 rwhp car at 19-20 psi for 2 years with no 'O' ring and a wide fire head gasket. Absolutely zero problems. I use a Tec3 tuned by Chris White which gets back to dannos comments. If the air fuel and timing are correct you shouldn't have an issue without an 'O' ringed head.

rage2

I used an oring on a stock headgasket, racewear studs, would not blow with tons of track abuse at 12psi or 28psi. I've also used a widefire gasket with autothority chips back in the day without any problems either.