Thread: headgasket questions

Hey guys so i have to pull my motor out and redo the head gasket and oil pump. Originally i had an oem paper gasket then switched to a cometic metal gasket. When i did that i did not deck the head or the block. I never had overheating issues so i figured i didnt have to deck it and using the arp head studs id be fine.
The car had issues for a long time so i let is sit. now i figured i get cracking on it and am pulling the engine out. Im going to go with an oem paper gasket as i dont want to deck the block. Now my question is do i need to deck the head to be perfectly flat or will the gasket do a good job sealing any small scratches or valleys.

ALSO, ive never used the copper spray before but am curious as to what benefit it provides?

Thanks for any and all help and comments.

I wouldnt use the oem paper gasket i would go vet gasket at the least.

Resurface the head at least. Can you where the car was overheating on the headgasket.

this would require me to deck the block, and to do that i have to strip it down to a bare block, i dont want to have to do that. Im not going to be boosting more than 15lbs.

cut corners now and your ass will be chilling on the side of the road trust me i know

I also never had a problem with a cometic sealing on an undecked block (motor wasnt overheared)

You don't have to deck the block in order to run the vet gasket. Just clean the deck very very well..

What do you use to clean the block with?

vet gaskets are cheap enough upgrade

but if your really on a budget back in my poor days i used ebay 10 dollar head gaskets along with npr rings on old "slap together motors" and they took quite a beating in the 280-350hp range

but i was jobless and had plenty of time to do tear downs if i needed to for 75 dollars or w.e it is for a vet gasket its worth every penny

There is gasket cleaner/remover that you can use. Its basically disolves the old paper material along with a plastic scraper and some scotchbrite and some patients lol.

I already have a Cometic HG in there. I was jus worried about any pitting or valleys on the head or the deck. Jaime said if I use a metal hg both the motor and the head have to be perfectly mirror straight.