Kyle Hagemann wrote:
> Hi all-
> Okay, now I'm confused. I saw a few list members report that
> the double-thick copper head gaskets are a "good thing".
>
> Then I saw Marc Sayer (AIR) say that they are a "bad thing".
>
> The www.headgasket.com website mentions "annealing" and "stop
> leak" as part of a typical installation. Annealing being
> cookin' it with a torch, the stop leak being that radiator
> clogging crud. Neither of those words make me particularly
> confident.
Me neither, that is why I haven't tried one. HG's aren't that much
fun, so doing another just for sport just doesn't
interest me.
Another engine builder I know said they are great on
porsche engines, but there are too many cooling passages to leak
on the roadster engines. He didn't recommend it either.
> My '69 is just a plain-jane runabout, and I was hoping to lower
> the compression a tick and tighten up the timing chain (which
> doesn't really need much, a bit of shimming would be fine).
a) If you feel lucky, give it a try and let us know.
b) If you don't, use a Nissan gasket, burn premium and back off the timing.
If it were a turbo application I might be inclined to try a). For
a grocery getter, I like b). If you drive it every day, can't afford
premium, cut the piston tops and go with b., then you are done.
> So help me out here Roadsterites - what should I do? Just
> use a stock gasket for reliability, deal with the higher CR,
> and shim the tensioner? Or get a double thick copper one and
> see how it goes?
> A hotter cam would make the CR more livable,
> right?
A hotter cam will lose you lower end power and make the
idle rougher. It isn't going to make the engine any more
pleasant on the street.
Jim
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