There is obviously a argument over the exact terminology... I dont know which is correct. The terminology that i refer to is by what my shop uses.

Anyway, you should just have the head done with the STOCK gasket. You will be fine to 750hp! PLUS its easier, cheaper, and you dont have to pull block!

 

right and i agree i think different shops in different areas of the country call id differently. but to o ring ive heard described as a small goove in the block that a copper wire is placed in then a stock gasket is used. and a fire ring in the head only uses a mild steel ring and a modified head gasket. and if its done in the head and block both it just uses a larger ring compressed in the grooves. and as far as re-torque goes, once you do the initail torque you really dont have to do it again. it never hurts to check it ever so often but not required.

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also some shops can cut the block in the truck. but its getting to where its not the standard anymore. its easier to use the stock gasket and ring. the fire ring modified gasket can be a pain to sit the rings in the right places.

 

k, thanks guys thats all i needed to know. i figured i would retorque about once a year to be safe! i will call around and see whats available from the machine shops around here but realy there is only one shop i trust . they have built some crazy stuff for me in the past!

 

Are you sure about the copper wire part though?? Copper is EPIC SOFT and easy to smash. Wouldnt seem beneficial? My wire is stainless steel.

 

most race engines have copper head gaskets my camaro did, and it ran a 10 sec quarter they held up good even at 8k rpm's might be different but some food for thought

 

Great Info bro thanks

 

well i will say this. the diesel industry is growing and evolving so fast there are so many ideas and opinions out there. and everyone is still trying so many different things to see what works the best. you can call three different shops ask the same question and get three completly different answers. im not sure that there is a standard on the fire ring/ o ring types and style. if your gonna do it i would strongly suggest calling many different shops and asking them and researching it, and then decide whats gonna be best for your application.

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the copper ya im sure ive read that and seen a few done that way. and the benifit to the soft copper is it will crush down and seal better. like stang said most all gas engine race gaskets are copper. so im sure the thought process was if it worked on one it would work on another.

 

exactly! i had 13.5:1 compresion with nitrous at times and never blew one! wonder if a full copper gasket would work on a cummins i know mine were reusable gaskets

 

i dont really know but there is a lot of difference in 13.5:1 and 16.5:1 or more on our modifieds, and 60 plus psi of boost then throw some nitrous in on that too. its gotta be a serious gasket to hold all that in. but it might be something someone should try. never hurts to try something once. ill just be glad when the diesel market levels out some and we start getting some established standards on power like the gas community has. you take the cummins everyone has a different opinion on how to make power, but you take a 350 chevy and everyone basiclly has the same ideas on how to make power. like i said ill be glad to get everyone on the same page with power mods and like this thread has went what to call them.

 

true! good point, i listen to what has worked for everyone and take it all with a grain of salt , just like most diesel guys saying " my cummins gets 28 mpg" . and there is quite a difference in the compression ratios but the rpm's also play a factor in the pressures on it too, my race engine at 8k is quite a bit different than most cummins at 3200-3300, im thinking someone should make them, and i just remembered that my camaro's heads were also o-ringed so thats what they call it here when its on the head