headgasket-horsepower limits??

[drftnrps13]

ok just wantd to know whats the limit on the stock headgasket on an rb26? just got a fresh rebuilt stock rb26 and wantd to know how much boost/power i can throw at it.

mod list-

rebuilt rb26(stock)single turbo gt35r750cc injectorsupgraded fuel railwalbro 255power fc d-jetro

[Shocker]

Depends on the turbo at hand. But with ARP studs I wouldn't go more than low to mid 20's.

[Carl H]

since you've pulled the head i assume you're using arp studs.i ran 18psi on my stock hg/stock bolts before the motor blew and it was fine...even overheated a few times and hg was perfect when i tore the engine down.i currently have my engine tuned for the occasional 22psi blast and its been doing fine.

[drftnrps13]

nope. i using stock studs. no arps here. im shooting for 400-500hp max. just wanna to know if it will handle it. i wanna boost like 15 psi on a gt30-gt35r

[drftnrps13]

when the engine blew, was it the headgasket that went or something eles? so it can handle 18-20 psi?

[Cjmartz2k]

The original question was correct. It has NOTHING to do with how much boost. 200hp? That's not anwhere close to correct. I made around 500rwhp for over a year on a stock headgasket (although it was a 25, not a 26.) I drive for my shop guy when he tunes, and has done many 400+hp RB's on the stock headgasket. There is no accounting for a ****ty tuner though.

Also, it's not so much that the HG is stronger and resists "unsealing" as much. Head studs hold the head down, and if it never lifts, the HG doesn't blow. A metal/rubber headgasket will just sit back down after it's been lifted and seal again, where a paper one will blow out.

You'll be fine at 500hp on a RB26 with the stock HG unless you have a ****ty tune, in which case you have a lot more to worry about than your headgasket.

[Fearsome_tea]

Its more about the tune. 500hp is not going to blew a head gasket unless you knock.

[OpeLok]

I'm running 20psi on my rb20 stock headbolts/gasket and still running strong. With arp's I'd assume you could run quite a bit more.

[northstar ninja]

I would put the arp head studs in before cranking up the boost... Theyre'e cheap like $120, and good insurance. Don't forget to chase/oil the threads, so you get proper TQ readings when reassembling... Stock head bolts are torque to yield IIRC. They literally stretch when torqued properly, and aren't designed to be reused, especially not in a performance application like 2X stock HP. just my $.02