OK, I just put a brand new oem head-gasket on my z6. I used arp head-studs, and had a machine shop re-surface the head. I got it all bolted together when I noticed that there was a big crack in the cam girdle bracket (I think that's what they're called). It turns out that the machine shop cracked it, so they have conceded to buy me a new head.
Anyway, so I am wondering whether or not I can re-use the new head-gasket that I have or not. The motor has never been started with it. I'm thinking that if I use some copper gasket spray that it will seal up ok so that I can run 8-9 psi without any trouble, but I'm not sure.
What do you guys think?
Oh and here is a nice picture so more people will look at my post!!!

 

im sure you can, but since stock headgaskets are cheap and readily availible just get a new one.

 

i re-used mine after it had 1000 miles of use... i justcleaned off all the old copper spray, added a couple fresh coats and it works great... doesn't burn oil or coolant and no exterior leaks

 

make the machine shop buy you a new gasket, no sense risking it when it should on their tab.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lazerus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">make the machine shop buy you a new gasket, no sense risking it when it should on their tab.</TD></TR></TABLE>

true!

 

I'm on my 4th time re-using the headgasket on my B16A, a few thousand miles on it, no problems. College student living on savings = no money.

 

Lee,
WTF? college student = NO Money, so I say same head gasket and a little love from the copper spray. And uberdata to top it off.

BIG JAY

 

I'm pretty against reusing headgaskets.. but honestly.. if your low on funds, and its not to old, definatly give a few coats of K&W copper spray, and re-torque that bitch back on there..

 

if your ok with reusing it do it...

stock headgaskets are good for about 2 times....cause they squish and seal...they lose the squish after about 2 times...

but it depends on lots of variables...

if its relitivly stock engine...not crazy compression or boost....you should be good...

BUT i will say this, in the back of your head every time you get on it you will think...

"is the headgasket gona hold"

do you want to think that evertime

all in all, i would make the machine shop give you a new topend gasket kit(which should include headgasket)

 

oh yeah and your pictures suck...



only cause it made me look

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pornstarSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">oh yeah and your pictures suck...



only cause it made me look</TD></TR></TABLE>
haha....sucka!!!

So no real definitive answer here heh? Well of course if I can get the machine shop to pay then great, but I have a feeling that they will be reluctant. And yes, being a college student=no money. So maybe I'll just break down and use the copper spray...worse comes to worse I'll just be doing all this over again in a month or something.

 

i work at a machine shop and have seen this quite often. They most likely zipped the bolts out with an impact without loostening the valve adjustment screws. Or just loosened them by hand one at a time instead of evenly causing tension on the one side of the cam tower and it cracked. Sorry to hear. That sucks dude.

 

update: the machine shop just bought me a new gasket, so no sense in re-using the other!

 

Rule of build it right the first time; so you dont have to worry about it later!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ibiza &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">update: the machine shop just bought me a new gasket, so no sense in re-using the other!</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats what i like to hear....get it running

 

my head gasket is a 3rd time felony offender........lol

 

Mines is on its third time around in a boosted d series. The second time I reused it the gasket was only a week old and I refused to order another one because the dealership here did not stock them at the time and I was broke anyways . The third time was on a sunday and I had no choice because the car had to be driven to work on monday. 8+ months later with no problems! Copper spay is the key!!!!

 

theres a different kind of permetex spray called hylomar pt#81998 its in a blue can,
I used it on a friends motor, his #4 sleeve sank .002 (he didnt have the money to tear it down and deck the block) I sprayed the gasket and torqued it to 65 and it hasnt leaked yet.