| Author | Message | ||
     Essmjay |
I am going to take apart the top end on Macy's 2002 S3T. Does anyone if I need the stock head gasket, or the .030 or .040 version? The engine is stock. Shane | ||
| Ajgerdes |
standard gasket will be fine, but while your in there you should replace the base gasket as well as long with intake, exhaust, and pushrod, and rocker gaskets. all of that will cost no more than 40 dollars at the stealership. | ||
| Blackm2 |
+1 to Aj's post. You are releasing the tension on the base gasket when you remove the head. Better to do it now than have to do it all over again very soon. | ||
| Ltbuell |
I'll follow suit to this with a +2,def don't want to do a job twice(Been a tech/manager for 30+ yrs-comes with the time an experience)an common sense... | ||
| Essmjay |
Actually, the reason I am doing it is to replace the leaking base gasket. So I am just replacing all of the gaskets on the top. Thanks for the info. Shane | ||
| Bluzm2 |
The new base gaskets are WAY better than the old paper units. Replace both cylinders and be done with it. | ||
| Fahren |
Are you using the updated HD gaskets (Cometic-like), or is the reason you are asking about gasket thickness because you are going to use the awesome Cometic gaskets? | ||
| Essmjay |
I was looking at the Cometic kit. It sounds like you would recommend it? I don't really see how you could do all the gaskets and seals for $40. This S3 we bought last summer for Macy has been leaking at the rear base gasket for some time, and the rocker boxes have some weepage, so I plan to go through the whole top end and replace everything that is a gasket, washer, or seal. I have always found a kit to be the easiest way to do that so I don't come up short one piece just when I need it. I have done top ends on 1200's four times over the last couple decades, so while I will need to follow the service manual I do not expect any difficulty. The motor is pretty low mileage so I expect to find no problems inside, it should just be a take-apart/put-together. No plans for any upgrades to valves or pistons. I can take off the jugs with the pistons still in them so I shouldn't even need to mess with the rings. | ||
| Essmjay |
So when would you use the thicker head gaskets? | ||
| Fahren |
The "real" way to figure gasket thickness is to use some bits of soldering wire a daub of grease to measure your squish with the parts assembled sans gaskets, and to figure gasket thickness so as to end up with .030 - .035 sqhish band. Here's more on this: http://www.nrhsperformance.com/tech_squish.shtml |
