I'm looking at running mid 11:1 cr with nitrous(of course) so I'm going to need the strongest seal possible when it comes to bolting the head down to the block. However, reliability is my main concern.

I understand that O-ringing the cylinders will provide a raised surface for the headgasket to seal with. That makes sense to me. However, how is the reliabilty when compared to running an OEM spec deck?

Secondly, what does running a raised deck/sleeve do? Does it serve the same function as O-ringing? Also how is the reliability of this setup compared to O-ringing?
TIA

 

All I can say is I have had great luck with my Darton sleeved block which is not O-ringed or stepped deck it i flat, Cometic HP gasket with no copper spray. It has sealed great for over 30 dyno pulls at has made 571.8whp and 354.1 ft-lbs torque so far with no sealing issues, we will finish the tuning of it this week sometime. Others have had great luck with stepped deck sleeved blocks and oringed blocks and others just normal flat decked blocks. Get some head studs like AEBS is my preference.

 

leave it flat. if the head is flat and the block is flat you wont have any issues. i regret having o-rings cause they are such a headache. the block has to come out everytime the orings flatten or get uneven. my next block will be flat for sure. i woudl go with AEBS headstuds too. i just got a bunch in stock and they are much nicer than ARP's.

 

If all is 100%, flat will seal just fine. I have 2 personal race motors, one with o-rings and one with .003 raised above deck sleeves. Both seal equally well with Cometic mls gaskets. Raised sleeves can be a challenge if you have to surface your block.

 

Great. I was hoping that flat would do the trick. Thanks for the help.

 

didnt the raised deck design begin with ferraris or something, i had no problems with my rs block and arp studs, but it is fixing to get its first real test on this motor build with it, boost--- 17-18 psi i am hoping!!!!