head gasket question, totally confused.

why in Gods name would u use copper gaskets? If your block has been milled, then your not at 8.200 deck height anymore. Find out how much your pistons are in the hole to determine your final compression ratio. If they are .010 in the hole, then u need to add the amount cc into your equation....your machinist should know this. Standard thickness for a headgasket is typically .039

A headgasket is designed to blow when something doesnt go right. Alot of people are afraid of blowing them, and are upset when the do bloe,when they should be glad it wasnt their rods that bent or burnt a hole in a piston. If your using twisted wedge heads, i would recommend Fel Pro8548-pt2, dont get caught up in all the hype that your motor needs copper head gaskets. That would be complete overkill for ANY type of street applicatioon. If your tune is on the money and everything is koser, youll never have any poroblems with gaskets. If your still no convinced that a standard fel pro gakset is for you, look into O-ringing your heads or block before you try a copper HG.
Cometic is oneof the most reputable head gasket manufacturers on the market, and youll get what you pay for. check them out.

http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/showthread.phps=&threadid=24116&highlight=head+gasket

http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23039&highlight=head+gasket+fel+pro

I'd add that you don't want to adjust clearances or CR by going with thicker head gaskets. There's a certain amount of quench that's appropriate, and the standard thickness head gasket works pretty well to give the engine what it wants. When you go with thicker head gaskets, quench gets shot and you can end up with a detonation prone engine because all the mixture isn't squeezed into the chamber where it's most easily and consistently ignited. No reason you shouldn't be able to use a standard replacement head gasket just like the good sarge says.

sirsureshot39 said:

why in Gods name would u use copper gaskets? If your using twisted wedge heads, i would recommend Fel Pro8548-pt2

http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/showthread.phps=&threadid=24116&highlight=head+gasket

http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23039&highlight=head+gasket+fel+pro

Click to expand...

I agree completely. Use either the 8548 pt-2 or 9333 pt-1 (same gasket). It's an economy Felpro gasket but they work better than the Felpro performance line.

Just found out in another thread that Drew's planning on 14#'s of boost. That would have been what we call 'useful' relevant info here Drew. I'd repost or retitle to get the boosted crowd to help you with head gasket choice. But I'd stay standard thickness. Maintaining proper quench to reduce detonation chances is even more critical in a boosted application.

The gaskets listed above will easily handle 14 psi with the proper tune.