Questions about ringed heads.

[Zzyzxx]

My heads appear to be milled for ringed head gaskets. Does that mean I need to get my block ringed as well? Is it mandatory that I use ringed head gaskets now or can I just use regular head gaskets?

[maveRick]

Hmmm... when I had a set of Windsor Jr's on my '90, the heads were ringed but not the block (maybe that's why I couldn't keep a set on 'em :D) and it DID require a $pecial ga$ket with a 'loc wire', but I couldn't tell you which one.

It could be this one at SummitRacing.com

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS-51400902&N=120%20302148.

One of these guys will be able to tell you for sure though.

Gluck

[Zzyzxx]

Hmmm... when I had a set of Windsor Jr's on my '90, the heads were ringed but not the block (maybe that's why I couldn't keep a set on 'em :D) and it DID require a $pecial ga$ket with a 'loc wire', but I couldn't tell you which one.

It could be this one at SummitRacing.com

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS-51400902&N=120%20302148.

One of these guys will be able to tell you for sure though.

Gluck

I sure hope so because that doesn't sound real positive to me! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[LilRedLX]

the Loc Wire gasket from Fel Pro has a copper ring in the inner part of the chamber hole. When you torque the heads down this copper locks into this small .10 cut in the head thus locking them down. Its a good design and has been used time and time again. The gaskets are expensive but this system works well. To blow them out the gases have to get to the copper....then travel in an "S" pattern to escape.

If you blow these out with any regularity, you have other issues.

[Zzyzxx]

So there's nothing that needs to be done to the block?

[LilRedLX]

no sir........if you did the same thing to the block it would mess everything up. There isn't enuff copper there to go into 2 directions. Try to re-read my discription on how it works then visualise it.....it'll make more sence.

This will lock the gasket INTO the head. Just make sure you use the Loc Wire gasket from Fel Pro and torque away just like it is.

Good luck!

[AGirlWithACoupe]

I sure hope so because that doesn't sound real positive to me! :eek: :eek: :eek:


Yeah, Fred and I were discussing this when we were 'potentially' in the market for heads and found a set that required loc wire gaskets. The downside is, if you don't blow a headgasket, what do you blow!? Of course, none of it should 'blow', but 'crapola' happens. Are you cool with the whole loc wire situation? I'm just curious, you sounded unsure, maybe I misread.

Good luck!

[Zzyzxx]

That was more a reaction to the first reply - sounded more negative than anything.

[maveRick]

edited edited edited

[Blue91]

That was more a reaction to the first reply - sounded more negative than anything.

Well, they CAN be a negative thing. I like to think of my HG's as a FUSE. If something goes wrong, I'd prefer the HG to pop than to hold on tight and have a piston let go instead.

To each their own, but this is my take on em.

[Timebomb]

With any motor I run I'd want the head gaskets to act like a fuse and blow before anything else does. With O-ringed gaskets like Cris says what is gonna blow if the head gasket can't because of the o-ring? Some people swear by them though, then again I know a couple of cars running stock replacement felpro's deep into the 9's.

[Zzyzxx]

Is it safe to run standard stock replacement gaskets with a ringed head? I'm liking the idea of having a fuse there...

[AGirlWithACoupe]

The only way to use a standard-type head gasket on ringed head type head is to mill off the deck surface of the head to remove the receiver groove.

[Timebomb]

If your heads are cut for an O ring you have three choices, have them milled down to get rid of the grooves (this will increase the compression ratio), have the grooves welded and then remilled flat (hopefully keeping close to the same compression ratio), or go ahead and run a o-ring gasket.

[Zzyzxx]

Looks like I'm sticking with the O rings then. CR is gonna be about 10.2:1, and I'm not gonna spin it anymore than 6500. Nothing too terribly radical.

[LilRedLX]

While I hear what ya'll are saying about the Loc Wire....I like it. The big problem is that Ford's are missing the amount of head bolts that a CHevy has....they blow gaskets because of a flawed sealing issue. You can still blow loc wires but not as regularly as without. :nuts:

WHile there are some running 9's....they are not the rule rather the obscurity. As always, the good tune keeps things together.......but even with a good tune things go against the Ford design with several fewer head bolts. You have to make the choice, but anyone thats seen my heads (TFS-R),that are going to go on my next motor, will tell you that I have the receiver groove cut in my heads! :hail: