B230f mls head gasket thickness question

doleary · 11-10-2020, 05:06 PM

Have a 84 242 with a 92 b230f block h beams and forged pistons, going 16v head and hx35, pistons are stick out of block 15 thou, anyone have recommendation for head gasket thickness? . I would say I want to go for conservative boost but most likely end up turning it up way to much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Dan.

klr142 · 11-10-2020, 09:35 PM

You can use a stock headgasket with the pistons sticking out that much and it'll be perfect. Stock gaskets should be .047" thick which gives you .032" piston-head clearance. That'll be great for spinning up to 8000rpm if you'd like. You would also get the benefit of using the stock gasket as a fuse in case something goes wrong.

If you really want a Cometic, the .045" or .050" would be safe and still get you into a good quench clearance between the head and pistons.

doleary · 11-10-2020, 10:51 PM

Thanks for the info man, I had been playing back and forth with the idea of going with a stock one as this is the first time I'll be tuning with megasquirt I will probably blow my engine up lol but we will see !! Thanks, Dan.

klr142 · 11-11-2020, 01:51 AM

You’re very welcome! Basically, the goal is between .030-.040” clearance between the pistons and the head when they’re all the way up. Or, .8-1mm. If you aren’t revving past 6k you can likely get away with tighter, but the main benefit is already there when you’re at less than .040” gap.

doleary · 11-11-2020, 08:05 PM

Revving to 8k sounds fun =), and you sound like you really know what your talking about, thanks again !!

klr142 · 11-11-2020, 08:17 PM

Happy to help!

11-10-2020, 05:06 PM	#1
doleary Board Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Mass	B230f mls head gasket thickness question Have a 84 242 with a 92 b230f block h beams and forged pistons, going 16v head and hx35, pistons are stick out of block 15 thou, anyone have recommendation for head gasket thickness? . I would say I want to go for conservative boost but most likely end up turning it up way to much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Dan.

11-10-2020, 09:35 PM	#2
klr142 Turbo, what? Join Date: May 2004 Location: OR	You can use a stock headgasket with the pistons sticking out that much and it'll be perfect. Stock gaskets should be .047" thick which gives you .032" piston-head clearance. That'll be great for spinning up to 8000rpm if you'd like. You would also get the benefit of using the stock gasket as a fuse in case something goes wrong. If you really want a Cometic, the .045" or .050" would be safe and still get you into a good quench clearance between the head and pistons. __________________ Kyle - NLMGG: '91 244 NA DD/Track - General Leif: '71 142 Endurance Racecar - The General's FB page - Oregon Volvo Tuners - Died - 2014 S60 T5 - 2006 Elantra DD

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-10-2020, 10:51 PM	#3
doleary Board Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Mass	Thanks for the info man, I had been playing back and forth with the idea of going with a stock one as this is the first time I'll be tuning with megasquirt I will probably blow my engine up lol but we will see !! Thanks, Dan.

11-11-2020, 01:51 AM	#4
klr142 Turbo, what? Join Date: May 2004 Location: OR	You’re very welcome! Basically, the goal is between .030-.040” clearance between the pistons and the head when they’re all the way up. Or, .8-1mm. If you aren’t revving past 6k you can likely get away with tighter, but the main benefit is already there when you’re at less than .040” gap.

11-11-2020, 08:05 PM	#5
doleary Board Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Mass	Revving to 8k sounds fun =), and you sound like you really know what your talking about, thanks again !!

11-11-2020, 08:17 PM	#6
klr142 Turbo, what? Join Date: May 2004 Location: OR	Happy to help!