Copper and Aluminum Head Gasket Questions

W5R

New member
Does anyone know why the copper and aluminum headgaskets arent legal in the AKRA clone rules? I believe if we were allowed to use a copper headgasket, and anneal it, it would make for a much better seal in these engines without having to use permatex, hondabond, or whatever other type of sealer people like to use on their headgaskets. I havent had many problems with stock gaskets blowing out, but i have had the occasional gasket blow like anyone else does.

If i could use a copper headgasket, anneal it, then use the spray on copper sealer to seal it with, i believe it would hold up so much better and not have to be replaced until you pull the engine apart for a rebuild, even then you could probably re-use the headgasket if you wanted. It would also be nice to see headstuds be legalized as well, since there really is no performance gain to be had, and since sidecover studs are already being allowed under AKRA rules. Just thinking of ways to get a little more hassle-free longivity and durability out of these engines, in ways that dont offer a performance advantage. Interested in what others think about this, discuss if you will.
 
"Not Kidding" but, the answer is....."Must be OEM as it came from the factory"! I/we are on the 'same page' and maybe that will soon come as well. The Good news is that they 'finally' allowed changing out side cover hardware!! As I heard it...."Stock head bolts do Not appear too be a problem!" Keep in mind that anytime an after-market item option is given, the money flows in a different direction...(fact, not fiction).
 
I understand what you mean by asking. With the cc rule, thin gaskets are no advantage as long as cc is met. However Im wondering as to why you would want to use them. They are typically used because they come in a huge variety of thicknesses to get the piston to head or piston to valve clearance right. A stock type fire ring gasket will seal waaaay better in my opinion. I have used a pile of copper gaskets. If I can get the clearances I need and the compression I want with a stock fire ring gasket I always opt for that. Ive anealed. Ive coated. Ive done every trick relayed to me to get coppers to seal but they are never as reliable as a stock type. Having to use a stock gasket is more of a benifit in this case than a hinderance, in my opinion. As stated, I do understand asking "why" however. LOl.
 
I wouldn't have a problem with Copper gaskets being allowed, I wouldn't run them though..(I hate them) LOL. I also would like to see head studs allowed, one less thing to replace when refreshing. Also, I would like to see an adjustable high speed jet allowed..it should make jet changes at the track much easier (for those that do it), and I would think be pretty accurate (as in making SMALL changes)...Go ahead...let me have it!!!!!!
 
I wouldn't have a problem with Copper gaskets being allowed, I wouldn't run them though..(I hate them) LOL. I also would like to see head studs allowed, one less thing to replace when refreshing. Also, I would like to see an adjustable high speed jet allowed..it should make jet changes at the track much easier (for those that do it), and I would think be pretty accurate (as in making SMALL changes)...Go ahead...let me have it!!!!!!

x2....
 
You are having problems sealing them at AKRA specified chamber volume 26.5cc?

I havent had alot of problems with them blowing, but this past weekend i had an engine blow the headgasket 3 times in 2 days, using the stock steel gasket that has the black coating on it, which was .009 thick i believe. CC's are right at 26.8 to be safe, just wondering why a copper or aluminum gasket couldnt be used. For the ones who will say, "must be oem as it came from the factory", well there are people using the plain steel gaskets that dont have that black coating on them like you see on the factory ones, and those come stock from the factory, so why not allow copper or aluminum headgaskets and make the headgasket non-tech as long as people can still get the proper CC's with it? I see no reason not to, and no performance gain to be had by using copper or aluminum gaskets if the CC volume is the same. If you were using a thinner gasket and dropping the CC volume below 26.5, then yes i could see a bit of a gain to be had, but not if it stays at 26.5 or more like the rules state.
 
I understand what you mean by asking. With the cc rule, thin gaskets are no advantage as long as cc is met. However Im wondering as to why you would want to use them. They are typically used because they come in a huge variety of thicknesses to get the piston to head or piston to valve clearance right. A stock type fire ring gasket will seal waaaay better in my opinion. I have used a pile of copper gaskets. If I can get the clearances I need and the compression I want with a stock fire ring gasket I always opt for that. Ive anealed. Ive coated. Ive done every trick relayed to me to get coppers to seal but they are never as reliable as a stock type. Having to use a stock gasket is more of a benifit in this case than a hinderance, in my opinion. As stated, I do understand asking "why" however. LOl.

I have always had better luck with the copper headgaskets in automotive and cycle engines in the past, and assume it would apply the same when using them on these type of engines since the basics are the same. With a copper gasket, to get it to seal properly you have to use the copper spray on sealer and it seals perfectly, and once it is sealed up they are not easy at all to blow, or even to break loose when its time for a rebuild lol. When i go to pull a head off and it is stuck like glue, that tells me that it had a perfect seal and the headgasket was doing its job. Another reason i like the copper gaskets is because of the reason you mentioned, there are alot more variety in thickness available and you can pick what you need, rather than the pre-selected thicknesses of the stock gaskets.
 
I wouldn't have a problem with Copper gaskets being allowed, I wouldn't run them though..(I hate them) LOL. I also would like to see head studs allowed, one less thing to replace when refreshing. Also, I would like to see an adjustable high speed jet allowed..it should make jet changes at the track much easier (for those that do it), and I would think be pretty accurate (as in making SMALL changes)...Go ahead...let me have it!!!!!!

You make a good point, aint no reason for anyone to "let you have it" LOL
 
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