Gasket question

[v8ranger]

Ok, I am going to be doing some work on my Ranger this winter. I have to change some gaskets. As long as i'm changing them, should I put differant intake and head gaskets on that will handle the supercharger??? And if so, What do you recomend??? The stock gaskets seem ok right now, but if I add a couple more pounds of boost, I dont want to blow a head gasket. Just trying to avoid posible problems later.

[MalcolmV8]

I haven't researched this a lot but my Cobra uses a multi layered steel head gasket. It was made up of four layers and is as strong as they come. People push those motors to 1000 rwhp + and blown head gaskets are pretty rare on these cars. I asked around some when rebuilding my motor and was told to stick with the factory style multi layered head gasket because it is as good as it gets.

Also I switched to head studs instead of head bolts. It was explained to me that this pulls the head down on the block better than pulling the block up towards the heads the way the traditional head bolts do. Apparently this is even better but I wouldn't say required. Stock blown Cobra motors with head bolts worked just fine. Since I had everything apart I went ahead and switched to head studs at the recommendation of my machine shop and other various engine builders I spoke to.

That's all the info I have related to what you're doing. Hope that helps

Later
Malcolm

[MalcolmV8]

Oh yeah I also had this really sticky copper gasket spray I had to spray in between each of the head gasket layers. My machine shop swears by it and says he's not had any blown head gaskets since using it. It was only a few bucks at a local auto parts store so I figured what the heck and used it. It's really tacky and some what of a pain to use but if it works as good as he says then it was worth it.

[cgrey8]

For a built engine with aftermarket bottom end, going to a stronger head gasket is not a bad idea and will allow you to run a higher boost without the worry of blowing the gasket. But others think of the gasket as the weak link and actually like having it there to act like a fuse when things get overloaded. If you make the gasket stronger, it's like replacing a 10A fuse with a 15A or 20A. Thus, when things do go bad you put more stress on the other parts of the engine so instead of the gasket failing, you get things like compression ring failure, piston failure, bearing failure, connecting rod failure, or some other failure that is more expensive that a head gasket to fix. However if you are confident in the strength of all the other components and in your ability to not run the spark too high and cause detonation, then perhaps a stronger fuse is in order.

[v8ranger]

Hmmmm, now what to do, lol. I havent had any problems with the stock head gaskets. I have a oil and coolant leak. Its in the back of the motor. Its not a bad leak, I havent had to add any coolant or oil. It leaves a little spot on my garage floor and I dont like that, any leak is bad in my opinion. I hate leaks. Dont know if its the intake or head gasket yet. Maybe I should just stay with stock gaskets. Its not like I'm going to be running alot of boost. I am at about 6 pounds right now and I'm thinking about changing a pully to get it up around 9 or so. I think that's about as far as I should go on stock bottom end.

[usmcrp1044]

Hmmmm, now what to do, lol. I havent had any problems with the stock head gaskets. I have a oil and coolant leak. Its in the back of the motor. Its not a bad leak, I havent had to add any coolant or oil. It leaves a little spot on my garage floor and I dont like that, any leak is bad in my opinion. I hate leaks. Dont know if its the intake or head gasket yet. Maybe I should just stay with stock gaskets. Its not like I'm going to be running alot of boost. I am at about 6 pounds right now and I'm thinking about changing a pully to get it up around 9 or so. I think that's about as far as I should go on stock bottom end.

You sure that's the intake or head gasket?

On a blown engine without any crankcase evac setup, you very well might be pushing oil past the rear main seal.

[MalcolmV8]

On a blown engine without any crankcase evac setup, you very well might be pushing oil past the rear main seal.

Why is that? I've read that few times but forget the exact reasoning behind it. Is it caused from piston blow by into the crank case? I don't see why the pressure can't just be relieved out a crank case vent on the valve cover. What causes it to build up in the crank case to the point that it pushes past the rear main seal?

[usmcrp1044]

On a blown engine without any crankcase evac setup, you very well might be pushing oil past the rear main seal.

Why is that? I've read that few times but forget the exact reasoning behind it. Is it caused from piston blow by into the crank case? I don't see why the pressure can't just be relieved out a crank case vent on the valve cover. What causes it to build up in the crank case to the point that it pushes past the rear main seal?

An evac setup pulls air out of the crankcase. (vacuum)
Open breathers just allow the difference in pressure to try and balance out. The breathers only let so much out.

Yes it's caused mainly by blow-by from the pistons

[rojam18801]

v8 ranger blown front and rear seals is the problem i have right now. i'm putting in the third set now. tried pcv system, but now enough vaccum. tried two breathers, no good . went to evack system and still blown out seal's again... the old trucker

[v8ranger]

No, I know im not blowing past the rear main seal. I have had the leak for about a year or better ( only had the S/C 7 months ). I thought it was the rear main seal. So when I changed the clutch I changed the seal. The seal didnt end up being bad, but I changed it anyway. I noticed it is coming from higher up on the back side of the engine. Its not a bad leak at all, and every now and then there will be a dime size spot of antiefreeze mixed in with the dime size spot of oil. I never had to add any fluid all summer. I figured I would do it this winter one day when nothing is going on and im board.