Recently, I have had to pull the head off my motor several times (change block, bent valves, now change block again) and I'm buying a new OEM headgasket each time. Does anyone use the re-usable ones? How much more do they cost? Can they be used with a block change of the same spec, or only re-used on the same block/head combo? Thanks.

Vince

 

I've always used NEW headgaskets. If its a newer headgasket then I might reuse it on a stock motor but NOT on a High-strung engine. Try to always use a new headgasket.

 

Bernardo Martinez is the king of reusing head gaskets.

If at first it doesn't seal, torque and torque again

 

I only reuse OEM gaskets once... just make sure everything is clean with ZERO oil, and then spray some copper gasket maker on both sides of the gasket and bolt it down nice in the proper sequence.

Just as a note, i always shave the deck and the head to clean them up during engine build, and put on a new head gaskets for customers; the above comments were for my personal motor.

 

Just be safe and use new gaskets.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by C-speed Ricer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just be safe and use new gaskets.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's my opinion too. The only thing used headgaskets are good for is for claying the motor.

 

The reason I ask is because I've heard there is a type of gasket you can use up to 5 times (not the OEM one).

 

I've reused an old D16A6 fiber gasket on an 11.1:1 motor. Not the greatest idea, but I didn't want to drop the coin on a new one when it would probably work. It worked fine, and has for a couple of years. I do have ARP studs torqued to 60 ft-lbs, so the head doesn't have much choice but to stay put.

 

Multi-layer metal gaskets like HKS, Mugen etc. can be re-used several times if properly cleaned. I've got one of these in my motor at over 11.5:1 and no problems.