Heads with o ring grooves

[rick1189]

will a set of heads with an o ring groove in them work with a regular gasket and block with out the groove?

 

[jerryD]

you have to get a head gasket for o-ringed heads. hope someone else chimes in.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Just mill the grooves off the head, they are about .010" deep in most cases, then you can use a conventional gasket.

Are they cut for a O-ring or a Loc-Wire gasket?

 

[86bluecobra]

i would just use loc wire gaskets with em if incase thats what they are really cut for. better for running nitrous with. after all us ford guys need all the help we can get due to fords piss poor head bolt arangement.

 

[rick1189]

If I mill them off what will that do to my valve clearance?
I am thinking of filling the gap with red gasket sealer and hope for the best?

 

[Rick 91GT]

Valve clearance will change slightly, depends what you have currently.

Red silicone will not hold up, if they are lock wire by the expensive loc-wire gaskets. If they are made for a o-ring wire, put the o-ring wire in them and use a graphite gasket.

OR

Mill them off and use a Fel-Pro 1011-1

 

[rick1189]

How much compreshion will I gain if I Mill them

 

[rick1189]

I was thinking of using red gasket sealer to fill the gap and hope for the best

 

[rick1189]

will I have to groove the block also?

 

[rick1189]

That works I will just mill them Thanks

 

[growler]

Why don't more people run o-ringed heads on N/A motors?

 

[wild86stang]

I'm wondering the same thing as the last post. I know people usually run o-ringed when the cylinder pressures are high, such as forced induction or nitrous, but what about n/a high compression? Is there a certain level (compression or horsepower) where o-ringed heads (or block) are recommended?

 

[352Ford2]

Yes

There are a fair number of guys with o-ring on NA it's usaly race motor stuff with guys over 13.5:1 CR. Its just not usaly needed fo NA, but thats not to say it bad, O-ringing is great.

Keep the o-rings, they are great, you will never have to worrie about blowing a head gasket, even if you decide to bolt a big blower on later, there is no reason to remove them, they will give you piece of mind.

 

[joeyd0730]

this is why i always o-ringed my block, for me i change heads so often i never know what i am going to get. at least the block is there waiting for whatever.