Copper Gaskets

[haubstr]

We have built an L20B turbo motor with a rebuilt corvair turbo than will put out max of 5-7 PSI??? The motor is bored 40 over with stock compression turbo pistons. Which gaskets, if any, need to be copper? We heard you need copper gaskets...

 

Thanks in advance

[datzenmike]

If running 5-7lb the stock h/g would probably do. For added protection a copper one can be substituted. About 0.040" to 0.050" thick would be close to stock compressed gasket thickness

.

 

 

More about it here:http://forum.ratsun.net/showthread.php?1816-My-73-620-T&highlight=L20B+turbo

Edited December 28, 2009 by datzenmike

[DISLEXICDIME]

We have built an L20B turbo motor with a rebuilt corvair turbo than will put out max of 5-7 PSI??? The motor is bored 40 over with stock compression turbo pistons. Which gaskets, if any, need to be copper? We heard you need copper gaskets...

 

Thanks in advance

 

o ring the block you will not regret it

[ariascarlos1990]

check here man:

 

http://www.husseycopper.com/HusseyPerformance/PDF/Gasket%20Catalog%20-%20Rev%2013%20-%2008.pdf

[Braden]

nice find carlos!!!, definitely a good pice of info to have, im adding this to my favorites bar!!!

[datzenmike]

check here man:

 

http://www.husseycopper.com/HusseyPerformance/PDF/Gasket%20Catalog%20-%20Rev%2013%20-%2008.pdf

 

The number and the gasket picture doesn't seem to match. I don't see and L 4cyl gasket shown.

[freaky510]

The number and the gasket picture doesn't seem to match. I don't see and L 4cyl gasket shown.

 

NIS-04 3.395 to 3.410 2.0 Liter SOHC L4 (8 Valve) 85mm L20B

 

page 14

[datzenmike]

Saw that.... now look at page 34... NIS-04 is for a Z20/22 maybe Z24 gasket. I don't see an L 4cyl. gasket picture

[ggzilla]

5-7 lbs use a stock head gasket. No problems. Just be sure the prep the block and head faces and torque in three stages using the correct pattern. Use a good quality gasket like Nissan brand (not PermaTorq brand).

 

They use copper head gaskets when doing high boost, even 2 to 3 bar (30-45 lbs) of boost. Dunno where the line is, I would guess anything after 10 lbs. Or a stock gasket with o-ringed block might handle 1 bar (14.7 lbs).

[haubstr]

Thanks guys for the replies... Hopefully by next weekend it will be back together and I'll try and put up pic's or a video

[510six]

Several friends have had very good luck using the Felpro black headgaskets on their turbo L28et motors. The trick is to make sure that the block and head are both straight and have a good suface. I am using a Felpro black on the current L28e that is going to have 7-8 psi from a T67 thrown at it (260-270 rwh) and I don`t anticipate any problems. Using the Felpro gasket for a turbo L4 shouldn`t be a problem, plus copper head gaskets on a street car invariably leak coolant and oil (ask me how I know).

[Mark_Z28]

Copper gaskets wont blow out but they do leak. They are mainly for drag racers and other racing type builds. Mainly used to make max power and live and are also reuseable for the many rebuilds racing engines go through over the seasons. There are sealers you can use on them to stop the leaks but they arent always 100% eefective. Copper gaskets are very good for the header gasket though, they never blow out and are also reuseable to, have used them on my SBC's with no leaks.

[72240z]

5-7 lbs use a stock head gasket. No problems. Just be sure the prep the block and head faces and torque in three stages using the correct pattern. Use a good quality gasket like Nissan brand (not PermaTorq brand).

 

 

I agree, any decent oem spec gasket will be fine. 5-7lb isn't really anything.

 

Hear good things about the felpro black but I have no 1st hand experience with it.

[datsun 160J SSS]

Good info

[DISLEXICDIME]

Get head studs

[G-Duax]

I stocked up on the Nismo head gaskets when they were still around.

Woudn't worry about putting 15 pounds of boost on one of them.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

What about those layered steel composite gaskets from HKS? Are they still available?

 

I would just o-ring the block (have a machine shop do it for you) and use a OEM Nissan head gasket.

[scooter]

Cometic can build you one too. They are the shit as long as your block and head are freshly surfaced very finely with a modern cbn type surfacer.

 

I run a stock z24 gasket with head studs on my lz23, its also 12.3:1 and on a 75 shot. So far zero head gasket issues, im using one of those ugly fel pro composite ones too. Id rather blow a head gasket than throw a rod.

 

On another datsun motor i didnt surface anything, just cleaned it and put it together with a fel pro "black" headgasket. Didnt know if the motor was okay. Ended up being a wicked motor. Had to retorque it cause it was seeping.

 

All the ones ive put together have never had head gasket issues. The only thing ive gotten o-ringed is 1000hp 5.9 cummins'

Even with those a good mls gasket and a straight head and block and studs they take a shit pounding

[G-Duax]

Sorry, but they (cometic) won't make a metal head gasket for the L4.

Just got off the phone with Sam at Cometic.

They can do a composit, but those are readily available everywhere.

Dag nam it !

Kameari in Japan makes them, but are pretty expensive.

Small chance finding an HKS, or FET these days.

 

I'm stuck with running one of the FelPro copper 'shims', .020" thick.

Been toying with ways to emboss a bead around the cylinders.

[datzenmike]

A bead on the copper Gasket? Yes I thought of this too. Some kind of wheel and a soft wood to do it on. Have to be careful between cylinders. Maybe 'glue' 0.001" copper rings or maybe stainless? to the copper?

[G-Duax]

I have used 1/4" copper tape (made for building slot car tracks, and who knows what else), and run a layer around the ID of gaskets before, but it's a real pain, as you have to form it so 1/8" folds up to the surface of one side, and 1/8" folds up to the other side.

 

My son suggested a bead of solder around the bores, but that would be difficult to get an even thickness.

 

So yeah, looking at making a backing plate, probably out of aluminum, with a shallow grove in it, close to the bore,

and then for the other side, a mandrel with a step to fit the bore, and a couple of shallow holes to drop steel balls into.

Then just turn the mandrel while pushing down on it.

 

All because I was too cheap to buy pistons that I needed, and went with a set of unknown application off eBay...

 

As they say, spend a dollar to save a dime......

[datzenmike]

Slot cars.  Built my own track in the early '60s when it was a hot thing to do. Had a Stromberg Cheetah, but I digress. Tape would work but a bead would be better I think. The copper has to be softened first I would think and the bead refreshed any time the head was off..

[G-Duax]

Ah, the Strombecker Cheetah.

Like this ?

 

 

 

Anyway, back to buisness.

Made this today from some old coil-over upper mounts.

 

 

Put in drill press, used some special lubricant meant for copper, spun while pulling down firmly on handle.

 

 

Got this.

 

[datzenmike]

Ah, the Strombecker Cheetah.

Like this ?

 

 

O my G! I think it cost about $15 back then. Took months to save up for it. Thank-you.

[G-Duax]

Yeah, I was involved with the slot car industry 15-20 years ago, was set up with all the distributors to sell my products, so that gave me the abuility to buy from them at the same time.

 

A buddy of mine in Grand Rapids, who is also in the business who only deals in vintage slot cars (EJ's Hobbies) had pissed off one of the large distributors (he has a slightly prickly personality, like me), and couldn't buy from them.

He had heard that the distributor had a bunch of NOS Strombecker bodies gathering dust, and asked me to get get as many as I could.

They had nearly 600......

I got them all :-)

Kept one of each for my collection.

 

By the way Mike, lightly used ones don't go for much more than $15 on eBay.