Just figured i would post a thread that could easily be found for people searching for info and pics about O-ringing their heads...

First some facts and fiction;

• An O-ring does not have to be installed in the engine block
• An o-ring does not need to have a grove cut in head AND block
• An O-ring can be glued or more correctly pressed into the grove in the head
• An O-ring is nothing more then a piece of wire put into a groove on the head that gives extra clamping force directly on the fire ring of the head gasket.
• An O-ring protrudes past the heads surface to establish the clamping force.
• O-rings require many heat cycles to clamp the head down to proper torque
• O-ring wire is cut and filed down for a tight fit in the head
• The gap on an O-ring should be near a head bolt to help keep it tight.

Here are pictures of my O-ring job done by Advanced Sleeve in Mentor, Ohio.

450$ Later (Machining, Cleaning, O-ringing)...







400$ Head Studs, You should NOT use head bolts with O-rings...






Any questions? Just ask!

 

 

good info

 

does that just help the headgasket from blowin out at higher boost and higher compression? pardon my ignorance.

 

great info!

 

Yes, in combination with head studs the rings help seal up things to over 75psi. I stretched my stock bolts and poopped the head gasket @ 35psi (and smill high boost spikes to 40psi) with the stock turbo. I ordered 130hp injectors and will probably have twins in spring. So it will need to hold strong.

 

Can any machine shop do this and usually if I take it some place how much would it run me cash wise?

 

No its not some thing that every shop does. I had to call around some. Its very precise work. I am not sure what most places charge but for cleaning, resurface head and o-ring it was 450$. I will dig up my reciept and give a breakdown.

 

When is it necessary to do O rings? I am planning on running small twins with a hx35 over ht3b and was wondering if you thought i would need to o ring or i can just get away with a better gasket and ARP head studs?

 

so they dont cut grooves in the head ether? they just glue the wire on or they only cut grooves in the head and not the block?