How to Talk to the Mechanic?

[yaitsme]

:wavey: Hello Y'all -

:1zhelp:
I could use some advice on how to reassure my mechanic that it will be okay to use the 86mm bore hks stopper headgasket with the 84mm forged arias pistons we have (which are measuring closer to 83½).

I am not mechanically inclined enough to present this intelligently, I don't know why all the fuss over such a small detail - but then, that's why I'm paying this guy - to fuss over the details & get this build done right. When I stopped by today, he expressed his concern - again ... and while I don't wanna be a dick about it, and just say: "use it 'cause I bought it", I don't want to screw around and end up taking another picture like the one in my sig.

I briefly went over this with IJ & HPFEric before I 'pulled the trigger' on the purchase. But somehow, telling a Honda guy (the mechanic in question) that "IJ says it'll be fine", just doesn't seem to mean as much as it would here!

... so tell me y'all - what is my mechanic thinking? How can I best approach this?

 

[Boostedstr8six]

I think I understand the concern of the mech. It doesn't look/feel right to put a HG in that doesn't match the cyl. bore specs. The biggest area it impacts is the bore spacing, only with the HG in this case but it is a legitimate concern especially with someone used to Honda engines. With the 86mm HG the material between the bores is pretty thin (someone else might know the spec) and it could lead to an inter-cylinder BHG with a bit of detonation BUT with the MHG and reliable fasteners (ARP) torqued properly, you'd likely break ring lands and/or melt pistons before you B the HG. I'm talking out of my ass here but I hope that I might have been helpful.

 

[IJ.]

You WON'T blow a HKS Stopper between cylinders.......

Mine has seen a 32 psi overboost and has rattled hard enough to destroy a Ross Piston with no sign at all of blowing the MHG.

For what it's worth I wouldn't hesitate to use one again given the correct block/head prep.

 

[yaitsme]

I think I understand the concern of the mech.

Sounds like you just might.

it is a legitimate concern especially with someone used to Honda engines.

A real factor here, I think.

and it could lead to an inter-cylinder BHG with a bit of detonation

Yeah, see - that's the kind of thing I'm not thinking of ...

I'm talking out of my ass here

No problem - I do that all too often myself! ... and yes - I found it helpful.


... and yes, IJ - I believe ya, buddy - I dropped the coin for that bad boy on you & Eric's word (more or less), didn't I?

Just trying to get a grip on what my mechanic may be thinking here ... anymore input?

 

[Doward]

You can't find an 84mm MHG for your setup? I'd be worried about running a non-bore-matching head gasket, simply because I'd be freaking out about the quench area (2mm 'shelf' all around the block/head mating surface)

Would it hurt anything? No. Am I anal enough about my motors to care? You betcha.

 

[yaitsme]

You can't find an 84mm MHG for your setup?

Well, apparently not the stopper type design.

I'd be freaking out about the quench area (2mm 'shelf' all around the block/head mating surface)

I guess I'll haveta look close next time I'm at the shop, to try to grasp that one.

Would it hurt anything? No.

That's what I'm betting on, (obviously) - just wondering how to put the mechanic at ease with it!

:dunno:

 

[Nick M]

Don't leave out IJ's most important piece of info in his post. You need proper head and block work to use that gasket.

 

[yaitsme]

Don't leave out IJ's most important piece of info in his post. You need proper head and block work to use that gasket.

Yeah, I'm a dumbass - and just hardheaded enough that I've already learned that one the hard way!
I believe that's the key to my 1st BHG ... I don't make those kinds of mistakes twice!









New MHG, no machine work + turbo upgrade = 350 rwhp ... for a few miles anyway.