bsmi16490

Good evening,

I purchased this car about 1 month ago. Here is the short list. 351w to 408 stroker, all forged, aluminum heads, aeromotive fuel system, 60lb injectors, tko600, d1sc procharger(9lbs). Car dynoed 598hp, 592 ft lbs back in march. To make a long story short a shop did some work on the car for the previous owner and knocked the tune out of the car causing it to run very rich. I knew it was rich and drove the car around a little and trashed the head gaskets. So here are my questions, whats the best head gasket for this application, how do i tell what thickness to purchase to ensure my CR does not change. Here is the jist of this car, if I cant make this combo more streetable than it is I am going to take it apart and sell everything and buy a new 347. This car has a very large cam thats causing it to "buck" at low RPM. It is very annoying right now and once the head gaskets and tuning are done hopefully it will take a little bit of the radical out of it. Let me know what yall think. Thanks

Ford Muscle Forums

PSIG

Welcome to the forums. I have a whole different take on your issue. Just my 2¢, but running rich doesn't blow head gaskets. Running ultra rich trying to avoid detonation - and failing - does. You need a better overall tune and some boost tweaking on the specific fuel you're going to use daily.

Next, the right gasket thickness will be known when you pull and measure the old one. That is if you can't ask the PO what it was. I would strongly suggest that you have the heads checked for flatness, square, and surface RMS (roughness) when apart to be sure there are no issues there. The RMS is important depending on what type gasket you're using. Most performance gasket types will work in your application, but if you want extra insurance, use MLS. Expensive - yes. The best for boosted? Yes. It shouldn't be a requirement on 9 pounds, but I would, especially if you plan on whipping the ponies any harder.

Last, we are back to the parts and tune again for the bucking. The cam won't cause that - the tune does. It sounds like someone fudged it up (or swapped some parts) and it just needs some attention and analysis by a good tuner. 600hp is slouching for a properly built blown 408.

David

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Beoweolf

I am suspcious: any time a car with a worked over engine goes into the shop for tuning -then comes back worse than it was when it went in, I have this tendency to wonder what might have been taken off the car while it was in the shop. There is a reason all these guys on the forum ask questions about who canyou trust to work in your car... there are more than a few people in the business that have Flexible morality.

I hate being this way, but the fact is 19 out of 20 times, someone has decided that you won't miss this part or that or will be too lame to complain about, won't know enough to call them on it. Problem is, it might not be the owner, he may be thinking that his people are honest and trustworthy.

Bottom line; it pays to build and tune your own engine! That way any mistakes, screw up - FUBAR is your fault, no more guessing.

I wonder about the idea of dumping the engine, installing another one - seems to me that a lot of the reason you bought the car had to do with the motor? Now you are thinking about tossing it, to put in a smaller motor ... because its not tuned right? Seems like the story about the rich guy that trades in his Porsche, because the ash trays were full and he didn't know how to take them out for cleaning.

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" ... It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong. ..." - Voltaire

coolreed

Use Cometic Head Gaskets. They cost more but you will not blow a head gasket. They are worth it.