ka-t headgasket question

[mewantkouki]

Deck the head and run a cosworth gasket if you want a permanent fix. I'm willing to bet your head isn't completely flat. There's really no reason to run a MLS gasket under 500whp though. It isn't the head gasket material that is the problem on a ka, it's the clamp load of the shitty stock m10 head bolts. That's why people don't usually have a problem running stock / felpro gaskets with arp hardware. Above 500whp lifting the head becomes an issue, and mls is usually better for the simple fact that it won't disintegrate when hot combustion gas sweeps over it. I personally put 25 psi through my old ka with a stock gasket and stock head studs and have rebuilt several motors with felpro gaskets / arp hardware with no problems. I always torque the studs to 75ftlbs. As long as you don't detonate, or overheat the shit out of the car it will hold.

I'm not sure if it was said earlier too.. but all of this tack spray, hylomar, copper spray business is NOT to be used on a graphite composite head gasket. That's a recipe for disaster.