How much boost will stock head gasket handle?? YES I SEARCHED!!

[redsx13]

Ok this question is specifically aimed at the oem sr20det s13 head gasket, not the stock injectors, bottom end, or turbo.

how much boost can you run safely on a stock head gasket?

how much boost will it take to blow an oem head gasket?

Im thinking of running a gt2871r, but i cant afford the down time of a head gasket install, i rather my car be underpowered and safe that overpowered and unreliable.

[s13-t]

depends, old OEM or new OEM? did your built bottom end, im assuming its built, use a piston that changed compression? Was the head or block re surfaced at any time?

the point is that your head gasket will last as long as you dont abuse it. assuming the surfaces are flat, a new OEM gasket, and a correct tune, I would think the OEM gasket could handle low/ moderate boost with the flow from the gt2871r. So its safe to say that you could have a fairly nice set up on the OEM gasket but.... I personally wouldnt push it past 12lbs but im hella conservative and want my $hit to last forever.

But in all honesty changing a head gasket is less than a days worth of work and anybody planning on upgrading the forced induction and fuel system on a built engine should have the money and time to upgrade a gasket . better safe than sorry. And when a Cosworth gasket is only $150 and takes one sat or sun to install y not? Its just that your THINKING of running that turbo. So why not think about making your engine a little more trust worthy?

[Roger_cha]

well i have a buddy that ran 17 psi but he blew the head gasket after 6 month of driving it..

[redsx13]

its an old headgasket, the head has never been off.

well i have a buddy that ran 17 psi but he blew the head gasket after 6 month of driving it..

good to know

looking to make 280rwhp
Modified by redsx13 at 1:27 AM 6/2/2009

[RCA]

There are WAY too many variables, especially when the car is old and or has allot of miles on it.

Sure people can tell you a "rule of thumb" number of PSI, but it might not always work for you and your setup. You are taking a gamble either way.

To be safe, prepare for the worst, but hope for the best

[Roger_cha]

well he make over 280 with the stock head gasket but just dont last long, if he didnt always floor it all the time then it would last him about another 6 month, like my buddy says the more power you have the more you want to race it.

its an old headgasket, the head has never been off.

good to know

looking to make 280rwhp

Modified by redsx13 at 1:27 AM 6/2/2009

[Roger_cha]

and no its a new oem head gasket with a rebuild bottom block...

[Clawhammer]

Blew mine after a month of 18lbs.

[jr_ss]

I installed a new OEM H/G and ARP's on my S14 SR. It saw spikes of 17psi, not that I was meaning for that to happen. I ran it at about 12lbs daily and 14lbs at the track. Never leaked, overheated, or had problems with it. I didn't even resurface the head when I had it off, just removed all the old H/G material and slapped it back on and trq'd it to 80ftlbs in 4 increments and in the factory order. You just need a good clamping load on the head, i.e. better headstuds and the OEM headgasket should be good. I was pushing between 250-275whp.

[david200095367]

i ran my s14 sr stock headgasket on a gt3071r at 17.5 psi for a few months then i sold the engine and it was still running fine.

[redsx13]

I was planning on running around 10- 15 psi max to be safe, but im not sure if that will put me in the ballpark of my target 280whp.

hay this my sound like a dumb question, but how do you know when youve blown your headgasket other than lack of power, bad compression results, and coolant in the oil.

and also, does anyone know of a good writup/ tutorial on how to change the gasket?

[dsm007]

keep it at 11-12lbs max

[redsx13]

keep it at 11-12lbs max

ya that was what i was thinking in the back of my head, if i do end up getting my gt2871r turbo, it will be soo underworked. that turbos good from 300-400whp. at 10 psi i am going to push what? like 250whp?

[virus77]

I ran 14 daily, 17 high boost on a gt28r for 3 years on a bone stock redtop. Tune and general condition of motor have alot to do with it.

[redsx13]

i just had a very reputable tuner tell me that i can run 15-17 psi all day with an s15 turbo and shouldn't blow the stock head gasket. wtf?

I guess he knows what hes talking about, i know he has tuned ALOT of sr's

[pauliedrft]

very body says something different you need a poll to have a average of blown HG's to figure what is safe and what is not .people around here push 18 psi on there sr motor and don't even think twice and beat thee heck out of the rest of the motor . others blow immediately. Just dont go to crazy .

[redsx13]

very body says something different you need a poll to have a average of blown HG's to figure what is safe and what is not .people around here push 18 psi on there sr motor and don't even think twice and beat thee heck out of the rest of the motor . others blow immediately. Just dont go to crazy .

very true, i also think the tune makes a difference as well. Obviously, a properly dynotuned car is better than someone with a stock sr and a boost controller running at the same psi.

[pauliedrft]

very true, i also think the tune makes a difference as well. Obviously, a properly dynotuned car is better than someone with a stock sr and a boost controller running at the same psi.

Head starts to lift at 24psi on stock HG .just make sure you watch it have wid band and can watch duty cycle of injectors . The one thing ive learned is boost aint cheap if you want it to last .G.L.

[buster415]

hmm. I ran 20 psi a few times and nothings happened yet.. knock on wood but most of the time i only run 10-14 psi of boost i have a gt2871r and supporting mods. and a weird a** jwt ecu.

[DrifterProdigy85]

I ran 18-24psi for nearly 2 years on a 2871R and stock headgasket. Was over 400whp on an Enthalpy tune.

[redsx13]

wow, it seems alot of people are running gt2871r's. I need a new turbo, so im trying to decide between the 2871r and the stock s15 turbo. i was thinking of going with the s15 because I didn't think the stock headgasket could take that much boost.

[Emperor_Tha]

wow, it seems alot of people are running gt2871r's. I need a new turbo, so im trying to decide between the 2871r and the stock s15 turbo. i was thinking of going with the s15 because I didn't think the stock headgasket could take that much boost.

Get the gt2871, u can make the same power as the s15t28 but with less boost and more potential power for the future.

To keep the the headgasket reliable you have to keep the coolant, air intake, and oil temp in normal operation, also good the have a good pcv system

[DrifterProdigy85]

Yea its not so much the boost that blows the HG. Its the Intake Air Temps. You can blow a HG just using the stock T25 over 14psi just because its past its effeciency and its just overworking itself forcing in alot of hot air. Or it can blow just from not being tuned right and the fuel and ignition is making the combustion chamber hot. Boost and Turbo size doesnt have as much to do with it compared just how well your engine is made to run.

[virus77]

ya if you are dumping the cash into it you might as well get the 2871 and have some room to play with incase you want more power... its all in the tune and current condition of your motor (like the douche in japan didnt over heat your SR 6 times due to low coolant or what not)

[redsx13]

(like the douche in japan didnt over heat your SR 6 times due to low coolant or what not)

lmfao!

Maybe, My clip came from a crashed japanese drift car. For all i know it could be fully built. I allredy had to pull out the aftermarket cams. haha

[S14toRPS13]

I run a 2871R on 14 psi daily with a stock headgasket. The headgasket was put in about 3 years ago too when my motor was pieced together.

[pauliedrft]

lmfao!

Maybe, My clip came from a crashed japanese drift car. For all i know it could be fully built. I allredy had to pull out the aftermarket cams. haha

Lucky b*****d