egh22ahatch

Okay im new to the site ive searched the thread but ive found nothing ... ive got a jdm h22a motor with closed deck compression is 10.6.1 dont got the dough to fully build the block, my turbo setup is turbonetics t3t4 tial 38mm wastegate im looking turbo it im fully building the head now so my head is off i was considering a COMETIC HEAD GASKET 62 THOUSANDS wich would lower my compression down to 10.1.... my tuner said to run stock head gasket 30 thousands but compression still the same what do you guys think keep the stock gasket or run cometic lower compression gasket ...are the cometic head gaskets any good and will they hold up until i get the funds to build the block .. also this is my first turbo car so yeah im new to the turbo world ..LOL THANKS IN ADVANCE

busa4

each mfg is different so if your going to run low boost until you build the motor then go with stock. on the other hand, since the head is already off you can go with the cometic head gasket and re-use it when you build your block. i would stay away from any head gasket that is thicker to lower compression. you want to lower your compression with dished pistons not a head gasket.

egh22ahatch

Yes but to lower the compression with a cosmetic gasket there will be less chance of detonation id rather change a $135 doller head gasket than $1800 dollar longblock.. I no ill also have less power from the cometic hg but reliable means more to me.. what's the main reason you think I shouldn't run thicker hg.. thanks for the input.

busa4

your running a stock motor so im assuming you will be running low boost. theres no point in a thicker head gasket in this case as the boost will be low. buy the cometic head gasket and reuse it when you build the motor. thicker head gasket will change your valve train geometry as it will sit higher than normal. also since your head gasket is thicker it will have more surface area in the combustion chamber and it will be easier for boost to damage it. you want the cylinder and cylinder head to retain most of the pressure not the gasket.

egh22ahatch

Dam sounds like you def no your shiat.. stock head gasket it is one more question I'm gonna be running tial38 mm wastegate which spring should I run I've got to ones 7psi the other is 8.75 thanks for the info

busa4

it depends... do u want to boost 7 psi or 8.75 psi? most stock engine will be able to handle 10 psi or less reliably so its your preference. if your not using an intercooler go with the 7 psi spring. if your going with an intercooler then go with the 8.75 psi spring.

SlowSL

You need a way to monitor knock, I'm sure you honda guys are able to do that fairly cheap. I'd keep the compression higher and just use some form of meth/race gas mix/E85, etc. to allow you to raise boost to a fun safe level. Your car will be more responsive on the street down low w/ the higher compression. Just make sure whatever HG you use is multi-layer steel and not graphite composite crap. My graphite gaskets didn't last long after I cranked up the boost. They literally decintegrated from the coolant/oil passages all the way to the cylinder ring. What a mess.