Metal Head Gaskets?

[gwumpkus]

hi folks. i've been reading about that dreaded head gasket blowing.. and i've just gotten a 7M-GE supra without any form of history/records; and i'm kinda doing it up as a daily commute, intending to keep it stock.

what thickness of metal gaskets should i be looking at? i've seen anything from 1mm upwards, from brands like Cometics and HKS... and i know that a thicker gasket will lower the compression ratio (not what i want i suppose?)...

so what do u guys reckon is a gd thickness?

thanx a million!

cheers!

michael

 

[BrandonW]

is the stock hg already blown?
and take a look at this
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97552

 

[ben1984j]

You don't need a metal head gasket if keeping it stock. A stock Toyota HG torqued to 75 ft-lbs should be more than adequate for your needs. The only problem with the head gaskets on these cars is that they were only torqued to 58 ft-lbs from the factory, which we know now wasn't enough...

 

[gwumpkus]

is the stock hg already blown?
and take a look at this
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97552

hi brandon,

thanx for ur input! the HG's not blown yet..(i'm still happily driving the car around!..ok i know that doesnt mean all the time that it hasnt blown!....)

i'm just thinking of preventive measures, just in case.. cos i do some distance driving frequently (200+ miles one way.. up north to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.... so the last thing i wanna deal with is a blown HG anywhere in between on the highway..

also, thanx for pointing out that previous post! wondered how i could have missed it!..

Ben1984j: so seems its only the lack of torque thats controibuting to this phenomenon eh?...sounds bizarre to think that something like this could happen to the same people who designed/built such a good engine block..

all the same, thanx guys, for helpin out a noob.. i'm off to the parts suppliers for a new radiator..this current one looks like crap.. looks like its been repaired, and sprayed painted over...wtf...

 

[ben1984j]

hi brandon,

thanx for ur input! the HG's not blown yet..(i'm still happily driving the car around!..ok i know that doesnt mean all the time that it hasnt blown!....)

i'm just thinking of preventive measures, just in case.. cos i do some distance driving frequently (200+ miles one way.. up north to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.... so the last thing i wanna deal with is a blown HG anywhere in between on the highway..

also, thanx for pointing out that previous post! wondered how i could have missed it!..

Ben1984j: so seems its only the lack of torque thats controibuting to this phenomenon eh?...sounds bizarre to think that something like this could happen to the same people who designed/built such a good engine block..

all the same, thanx guys, for helpin out a noob.. i'm off to the parts suppliers for a new radiator..this current one looks like crap.. looks like its been repaired, and sprayed painted over...wtf...

Yup, the torque spec was the only flaw...with a good tune people have pushed as much as 15psi of boost on a properly installed stock HG. Also, the downside to a metal head gasket (besides the cost) is it requires machining of the head and block to get it to seal properly. If you skip either of these steps then a metal head gasket is actually going to be less reliable than a stock one; the stock composite head gaskets don't require machining before installation. And for stock power levels (on an N/A engine for that matter) an MHG really is overkill...but it's up to you, if you really want to spend hundreds of dollars on machine work and go to the trouble of pulling your motor then go for it

 

[IJ.]

hi brandon,

thanx for ur input! the HG's not blown yet..(i'm still happily driving the car around!..ok i know that doesnt mean all the time that it hasnt blown!....)

i'm just thinking of preventive measures, just in case.. cos i do some distance driving frequently (200+ miles one way.. up north to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.... so the last thing i wanna deal with is a blown HG anywhere in between on the highway..

also, thanx for pointing out that previous post! wondered how i could have missed it!..

Ben1984j: so seems its only the lack of torque thats controibuting to this phenomenon eh?...sounds bizarre to think that something like this could happen to the same people who designed/built such a good engine block..

all the same, thanx guys, for helpin out a noob.. i'm off to the parts suppliers for a new radiator..this current one looks like crap.. looks like its been repaired, and sprayed painted over...wtf...

I did 75000 Km's in one year on a stock Toyota HG with my GE, installed correctly it's a non issue.

 

[jugodegolf]

I did 75000 Km's in one year on a stock Toyota HG with my GE, installed correctly it's a non issue.

Pretty much same here. Just retorque them to higher specs and you should be good to go.

 

[Mk3runner]

yup, just retorque.

 

[gwumpkus]

roger that..retorque to correct specs....

man, i'm having so much trouble finding parts for the car here at home.. the local toyota parts distributorship doesnt carry even maintenance parts! and the guy even ran outside to see my car, exclaiming that he never thought he'd see another one since...a decade ago...!!! hahha...

anyway..i've begun ordering parts thru ebay..... next weekend, i'll begin maintenance work..

thanx for all the input ..u chaps rock!

cheers

-michael

 

[jugodegolf]

roger that..retorque to correct specs....

man, i'm having so much trouble finding parts for the car here at home.. the local toyota parts distributorship doesnt carry even maintenance parts! and the guy even ran outside to see my car, exclaiming that he never thought he'd see another one since...a decade ago...!!! hahha...

anyway..i've begun ordering parts thru ebay..... next weekend, i'll begin maintenance work..

thanx for all the input ..u chaps rock!

cheers

-michael

search jeff watson/champion toyota. If not Jeff Lange should be able to square you away for sure.