What's the thinnest head gasket I can go with?

[trob9079]

getting ready to do a valve adj on my 07 zx10r and gonna do some head work while it's down, I don't want to do anything with the cams, the motor is bone stock now and just want to know how thin of a head gasket can I go with just having the head ported and polished?

[Okcboi]

Your not getting the full hmpt out of the head work without cams......IJS

[trob9079]

i just don't want to put the money into the cams just yet, that's coming in a couple of years when I can do the high compression pistons and what not, just want to go ahead and do the head work and gasket for now, cause i've still got to buy exhaust, pc, and swingarm, only using extensions right now, I just don't want to order a gasket that's too thin and not have enough clearance and be stuck waiting on the right one to come in

[1216 Bandit]

Get #1 piston to TDC and measure how far into the hole it is, right above the wrist pin.
Measure #4 too, if you want to get picky.
Subtract that from .040" for your head gasket thickness.
If it sticks out of the hole, measure how far and add that to .040" for gasket thickness.
I set my motors at .040" deck height which is what that measurement is.
I'm not a ZX-10 guy but that's a pretty good rule of thumb for a safe deck height.
Cometic will custom make just about any thickness you want.
Hank

[gazx10]

.045 head gasket will set quench right at .028 which is just right and safe for the zx10 engine, .050 hg is .030. go ahead and spend $40 to deck the head .015 along with thin hg and forget about the hc pistons. kaw 08 race int. cam only $120, this simple, reliable, cheaper combo often runs as fast as piston, bigger cammed 10's, easy to do now.

[trob9079]

preciate that guys, very helpful, also gazx10, do you know where I can buy the -08 race intake cam for that price????

[knecum]

.045 head gasket will set quench right at .028 which is just right and safe for the zx10 engine, .050 hg is .030. go ahead and spend $40 to deck the head .015 along with thin hg and forget about the hc pistons. kaw 08 race int. cam only $120, this simple, reliable, cheaper combo often runs as fast as piston, bigger cammed 10's, easy to do now.

Huh?? don't make sense. all engines vary !. I have a zx 10 at the shop all stock. its .012 in the hole.. you measure on the ex side between the reliefs.. put it at tdc and rock the ex side up by pushing int side down.. now if its .012 in the hole and you use .018 hg you have .030 squish.. which is just safe..with a good rider not hitting the limiter. Who decks heads for $40 ..thats funny!

[johnmiffco]

with ya steve
math dont add up,,,
if use 45 gasket and have 28 clearance
never seen stock oem nothin with piston
out the hole 17
and 50 will give 30,,,,lost another .001 there
then measure piston flat????
never seen piston stay flat goin from up to down,,,,

[pxmtuner]

He probably meant .45mm and .50mm which would make his math right

[gazx10]

correct pxmtuner, thanks. i have 2 shops that deck my heads, one local, one known builder in south ga., i pay $40.

[johnmiffco]

.045 head gasket will set quench right at .028 which is just right and safe for the zx10 engine, .050 hg is .030. go ahead and spend $40 to deck the head .015 along with thin hg and forget about the hc pistons. kaw 08 race int. cam only $120, this simple, reliable, cheaper combo often runs as fast as piston, bigger cammed 10's, easy to do now.

these dimensions were given are USA inch scale .000
metric scale is 0.00

[gazx10]

must be tired,my mistake, do'nt mean to confuse or share bad info. .45-.50 mm is right. cooper perf. decks my heads, also found it funny that star racing here in ga. surfaces all 4cyl. heads for $40, ape advertises $30. correct info. good racin.

[Moody]

regardless what head gasket you decide, make sure you check your valve to piston clearances after you degree your cams especially if you deck the head along with a thin gasket and a race cam. adjust the cam degrees accordingly to get your minimum valve to piston clearances

[knecum]

must be tired,my mistake, do'nt mean to confuse or share bad info. .45-.50 mm is right. cooper perf. decks my heads, also found it funny that star racing here in ga. surfaces all 4cyl. heads for $40, ape advertises $30. correct info. good racin.

thats crazy ... you must have to bring it in bare!! there's no way a shop is going to disassemble your head and put it on a machine for 30-40$ i charge that to change your oil!! surface and mill/deck is 2 different things.. A head resurfacer is a big belt sander.. and takes 30 seconds..and just cleans the surface.. Decking takes a few passes and requires set-up etc... not for 30$

[gazx10]

my heads done on end mill only, stripped down.