Hi,
I recently purchased wiseco low compression pistons and they are to use with a 0.040" thick headgasket (minimum). Is there an advantage to using a 0.053" thick headgasket or not.

Also to note is I had already changed the headgasket previously (previously to being turbo). In that process I had sent the head to get checked if warped. Knowing that it wasn't warped and that they milled not even one mil from it shoud I go with the 0.053" to be sure or still the 0.040".

 

This depends upon the compression ratio of the pistons and what your target ratio is. "low compression" could be anything. Many of us here don't use that thick of a gasket of either of those sizes unless the head has been milled quite a bit. going below 8.0:1 is not the best idea (depending upon engine). So there's no answer to your question without more specific information like engine, desired compression ratio, etc.

 

The pistons that I got have a range between 8.8:1 to 9.0:1. Wiseco requires to have a headgasket of at least 0.040". The engine is a B16A2 and I would like to get a compression ratio of around 9.0:1. As I explained earlier I had the headgasket replaced prior to the car being turbo and I had sent the head to check for being warped. Since it wasn't they only milled it bit (not sure how much). Therefore my question for using either a 0.040" or 0.053" thick headgasket.

 

I'm trying to see how wiseco can require gasket thickness for a piston that they made that is typically based on OEM headgasket thickness of .027". I have never heard of any piston company that "requires" a headgasket size. It is not how universal pistons are configured.

Most companies will simply resurface a few thousandths of an inch on a B16A2 Head which doesn't require such a gasket thickness. You putting either of those gaskets on 8.8:1 -9.0:1 pistons, will take you down over 7.0:1. So, you're really just making this worse, if I'm understanding you correctly.