What Head Gasket?

[Dyno4mance]

I am nearing completion of a high compression (11:1) head build and I am wondering what head gasket would be the best to use..
I have ARP head studs and was planning on a HG that was the stock thickness or close to it so I can maintain good quench

Metric Mechanic sell a modified water passage one that apparently stops the head cracking on #5 Cam tower it is quite pricey at @$200.00...does anyone know if the gasket they sell is a "Multi Layer Steel" or just a modified stocker?...and if it is any good

Also they have a modified spray bar with smaller diameter oil passages to stop too much oil getting to the head...Is this piece worth the money?
Thanks in advance...

[Dyno4mance]

Wow....has no one tried the Metric Mechanic HG?
19 vews and no replies....

[guibo09]

im curious to where this goes to

[Dyno4mance]

^^^^^^apparently no where....

[Dyno4mance]

53 views!!!and not even a snide remark....
Does anyone on this site even own an e30?:mrgreen::mrgreen::giggle:

[nando]

stock HG will be just fine. Turbo guys use them all the time with ARP studs, 11:1 CR is nothing in comparison. :)

[akorcovelos]

If you want peice of mind get the head welded, costs about the same as the MM HG. Otherwise stock equipment is fine for any N/A M20.

[guibo09]

if stock equipment is fine on an N/A m20, why do so many N/A m20's crack their heads?

[nando]

because BMW coolant systems are picky and people overheat them. that has little to do with high CR or RPMs..

[guibo09]

because BMW coolant systems are picky and people overheat them. that has little to do with high CR or RPMs..

so what is the recipe for a crack free head besides running the MM gasket?

[nando]

don't overheat it.

the reason people weld the coolant channels isn't to prevent cracking, it's because the head flexes a lot around the huge (and uneccesary) channels which causes the gasket to unseat and eventually blow. Although that could lead to cracking, it's not the main purpose.

[digger]

you can make any OEM goetze gasket a MM one with a dremel and 10sec.......all they do is elongate a couple of holes to the "teardrop" shape.

[Dyno4mance]

So the general consensus is stock will do even on a race engine...?
so, I should not even consider the MM, the IE MLS or the Vac race gasket then..?

Thanks for the responses...

[nando]

I wouldn't even consider an MLS on an N/A engine.

plus you have studs - a good quality OEM headgasket and the proper torque on those puppies is all you need. and of course good tuning and proper cooling system maintenance. I'm guessing you're not going to try and use the stock chip/ecu with an 11:1 CR race motor, so no worries about a poor tune causing problems. :)

[Dyno4mance]

you can make any OEM goetze gasket a MM one with a dremel and 10sec.......all they do is elongate a couple of holes to the "teardrop" shape.

That was the answer I was initially looking for, So the mm piece is just made of stock material....?

Then because of this modification I would think that logic would suggest welding the head would compound the head cracking problem...No?