Copper spray doesnt do ANYTHING to seal the cylinders. Its more for any posibbly leaky water or oil passages. If anyone can provide empirical proof otherwise id entertain it, but if you take a look at the gasket, its pretty easy to figure out why.

Ive run it, but dont anymore. Make sure the top of the sleeves are clean and in spec (stepped or not) no crud on them... I use 600 lightly to get any previous crap off... make sure its clean and dry, same for the head, make sure the gasket is clean and right side up, TQ correctly (96 Lbs is retarded)... And if your ***** in pec and prepped correctly you win, if not... You already know.

Plenty of over 1000 WHP cars run them dry (I personally know of 2 locally), I doubt Tony copper coats his ****.

Oem gaskets are .5mm over bore out of the box. I ran a OEM gasket on my 87.5mm H setup. Worked flawlessly for 2 years at 650.

 

so when i order a cometic, i have a 84mm bore do i order 84 or 84.5.

 

also is timing a big secret or what? im running 15 at full psi and throttle. is that to much? i wouldnt think so.

and step deck or flat?

 

FYI GE used OEM B18 vtec honda gaskets bored to which ever size you like.

also i would like to add....9 out of 10 times people running cometic gaskets have issues with them....yes some guys have good luck with them but for the most part all you ever hear is issues with leaks and not sealing right.

OEM is the way to go..IMO

good luck.

 

I would like to add to your addition, the Cometic gaskets that regularly have the issues are the COMPOSITE ones (Or thicker than normal) as mentioned like 2-3 times in this thread so far.

I know of more than a few 800+ approaching 1000 WHP cars that have 0 issue with the MLS Cometics. The COMPOSITE ones are garbage, but you knew that...


9 times out of 10, HG issues are improper prep (Surface-s) and installer error... (you can lump tuning in there too). Believe the call for 40 Ra finish or so or better, I use 600 grit an LIGHTLY clean my sleeves tops before a new gasket. 600 is good for like 10 Ra which is well within spec.

Also, Cometic recommends you run them dry, if the prep is right... They'll be fine.

 

I didnt have any issues with any of my cometic gaskets but I can say when they come off for a replacement they look terrible and show signs of layer seperation.I decided to go the GE route this time with a bored oem gasket.

 

are the guys running a step deck or flat with the cometics?

the ge may be the way to go then...

i know right now i have a 40ra.

 

so after reading all the good things about ge i think im going with them... should i get a 84 or 84.5. when i called to ask, some kid that didnt know what a step deck was answered the phone so i didnt ask him anymore questions.

 

Oem gasket and golden eagle studs on the way. Copper spray or no. Leave the step deck or flat?

 

Have you confirmed that it was the headgasket at fault? Were there any signs of leakage around the bores each time you've inspected the old gasket?

A hairline crack on the cylinder head on the intake ports will also push coolant out under boost... I find it hard to believe such repetitive headgasket issues at such low power.

Quality control is a b*tch, and that's Cometic's main problem. I am here inside a shop with an engine builder, and let's just say the failure rate is huge. Their issues are by the batch, so for a moment they all run well; and then a bunch of motors within another period of time all comes back with headgasket issues, regardless of N/A or boost, Honda/Toyota/Nissan/Domestics. I can also say that their gaskets are always revised and updated, because the number of gaskets I've received within the last decade are always slightly different and feels different over the years...lol No idea if they got better or crappier. OEM Honda is the way to go.

 

no copper spray...that **** just washes into the coolant and oil over time and does nothing to help seal.

as for the step deck on the dart block.....you should ask dart and see what they say...i think it will be fine once you get new studs and a proper gasket.

 

Yes we always ran cometic and this last batch we have been having problems with. My car and a 630hp h22. Both having the same issues. I'm very excited to try the Oem gasket out and hope she holds together. I will be sure to keep everyone informed. Thank you all for the help.

 

I did call dart and they told me to ask my head gasket manufacture. lol

 

Mr.johnson do you have an update? Did you rebuild with a GE head gasket? I personally think the stepped deck was your issue. Many sleeve shops are moving away from stepped deck method and even Cometic said no step with their gaskets.

 

on a dart block u cant o ring the block...so step deck is the only answer..for high power builds...on anything under 700whp a regular flat deck should be fine..

 

I think "showstopper" might be able to chime in, aka Rob Morse at TPR Racing, Im pretty sure he has delt with these blocks,

ps i didnt read any posts so dont whine

 

Made 650 all summer. Motor is out getting some better parts, head is getting ported and a new set of cams for next year.

Golden eagle :thumbs-up:

 

iI'm also decking the block flat after doing some research.

 

yes call me we were one of the dozen shops to play with the blocks when Payne had his hands involved with them.

513.942.7020

Rob@TPR

 

i will be using a DART block for my build. not sure if going b18 or b20 yet. was thinkin of going ARP. from what im reading maybe not a good idea? would honda OEM head gasget with arp go ok? or should i look at different hardware?

 

is the bottom out on the threads the only problem with the ARP hardware? would cutting them down a **** hair be a good problem solver?

 

Some use 5/16" BBs in the head stud holes. GE makes dog nose head studs. I intentionally bottom out my ARP studs. I torque them into the block 15ft-lbs. I never had one loosen up with this method and I never have to retorque the nuts.

 

That's what I do with AEBS/GE type studs. Never had an issue.

Also, OP.... .003 step is hardly anything and think about what you're saying. A stepped deck is going to seal better around the cylinders and not the coolant/oil passages. If your problem was the head gasket don't you think you'd have other signs to tell you it was that?

PS - sounds like your cooling system sucks too.