b16hybridsol

Little background: Last year I cracked a sleeve after 5 years of abuse. Stock sleeve 9.5:1 .0035 p2w, ls/vtec, 3076r, 16* timing @18psi on 93 pump. Rebuilt the motor to pretty much the same specs but went with a 6262 @ 16psi, 16*, on 93 pump, 9:1 pistons and .0045 p2w instead.

I put 500 miles on the new setup and the copper sprayed cometic .030 HG let go (about an inch wide leak into the coolant system off the #4 cyl).

Put it back together last week with a stock ls HG with copper spray and it let go on 3 cylinders after not even 10 miles. So ordered new GE headstuds since the previous ones had been reused a few times.

Put it back together this week with the new studs and a dry stock ls HG and it popped, in less than 10 miles... again. This time on 2 cylinders.

I've got another cometic on the way but I'm curious if anyone has any ideas cause this is getting ridiculous. Everything is true/flat, can't fit a .002 feeler under anywhere on the head or block. Torque wrench is calibrated and I followed GE's torque steps

used honda's sequence:
I 9 5 1 3 7
E 8 4 2 6 10

Heealllpp! ha

OneBadTurboCRV

Are you checking straightness with a certified straight edge?

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

How are you cleaning your deck surface? Was the deck or head ever milled?

hybrdthry911

Seems some have more problems with copper spray than with nothing. Never had any problems on mine without any spray.

b16hybridsol

My straight edge isn't "certified" but it's true. I made it on my bridgeport a while back and all surfaces were square

Non chlorinated brake-clean and a clean rag. The new short block was decked and the head was milled at one point in the old build and then before the new build. I'm not sure exactally how much was taken off of both in total but both cams had to be advanced a degree to compensate for the amount of material that was removed

I did install the last HG dry and it still blew out just as quickly.

I feel like it's something I'm doing but I've done countless head gaskets without any issues until these past couple weeks. I thought maybe it was something in the tune but there is no sign of detonation anywhere and it drives/pulls smooth

Maybe bore size of the gasket? 81mm bore but with the extra that was taken out for my greater p2w maybe I should try an 81.5mm gasket?

rich7777

Where exactly is the head gasket failing ? If you look at it or the block/head surfaces close enough you should be able to see.... Post pictures up if possible...

OneBadTurboCRV

Clearly it's not "true" if you are having these problems. Also, if you use an OEM gasket, that is the absolute best you can get. They are also already set up for 0.020" over (0.5mm)... Are you checking across the cylinders on at LEAST a 7 point axis? I also don't understand why you automaticly think 16* of timing is safe.

fcluddington

If the Head gasket is failing in different places. 1. Have you checked to make sure you torque wrench is right and I would try a thicker gasket. GL

OneBadTurboCRV

Haha, thanks for the laugh. Also, the thicker headgasket would most likely amplify the problem.

DraginX

Since the block has previously been milled and you don't know by how much, did you verify that the dowel pins aren't too long causing the held to be slightly lifted?

OneBadTurboCRV

Haha, you guys are full of jokes today! He would be having a LOT more problems than what he is stating... also, do you actually know where the dowels are located in reference to his problem? Interesting theory though...

zedron

iTrader: (1)

Same here. I started using copper spray because everyone said it was the thing to do. I went through HGs like it they were supposed to be changed like your oil. I stopped using the spray and no issues.

As far as Cometic vs. factory HG goes..... I am going to say I prefer Cometic only because I have had less HGs pop with them than honda gaskets or other non Cometic brands.

OneBadTurboCRV

You are MORE than the minority...

zedron

iTrader: (1)

I know. I have had no issue with Cometic but there have been reports of people having plenty of issues with them.

sleepencivic

LS/VTEC needs VTEC head gasket!!!! Can you show us the old gasket so the whitness marks can been seen where the gasket failed?

b16hybridsol

I'll try to grab some pics but the last 2 gaskets blew out on the outsides of 1 and 4

The edge is true, I have no doubt in my mind, and I laid it across each surface at least 10 different ways.

The timing is just another reference as to what's going on with the setup as I had heard of people popping HGs on shitty tunes. I dyno tuned it on the 3076, power dropped off after 17* so I went with 16*. Then recently just cleaned up that tune on the street and lowered the timing a bit more up top for the 6262.

The dowel pins have plenty of room before they would bottom out in either the head or block.

b16hybridsol

For those interested: I dropped the head off at my normal machinists today. He wasn't content with the RA of the head because a fly-cutter was used to mill it previously. He also said the dowel pins could have been causing the head to not seat properly as one wasn't perfectly square. So new dowels are on the way and it should be good to go again this weekend

kbouchard1092

Actually you have that wrong. You get the HG for the Block not the Head. He should use a OEM LS headgasket. Or a cometic for the Ls/Vtec. Do not get a thicker gasket

Sounds like the machinist found your problem. Should be good to go now

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

I've used LS headgaskets on ALL our LS/VTEC builds. It goes by the block.

*Edit* Same time, eh Kbouchard?