Most head gasket failures come from tune up and or installation error, in a boosted application and even N20 applications a "cheap" head gasket can save an engine as it acts as a relief valve. Youd be surprised how many GNs ,LS's, SBF's and SBC's with Felpro Blues and Victor Graphites have had ridiculous amounts of psi run thru them without problem and when.something does happen it will pop and save your tale. Just another point of view, but if the decks aren't true ,CLEAN and proper retourqe wasn't executed then your setting yourself up
Although the engine doesn't have many miles on it, it's done well to survive my learning curve! :beers2: It may be time to recheck everything.
Orange Crush gaskets are only go to 14 to one compression. They lasted about a month on a engine while it only had three pounds of boost.
I was thinking I needed a new inlet float so I got what I thought was a good one (viton tip) but it was/is .110 inch. The first trip was only to the gas station and back (no more than 25 MPH). It was doing the lean cut-out so I rose the float from 1/3 of the window to about 7/8. This time I took it for a drive on the open rode. It still cut-out some, but not like it was. Come to find out I took out a .130 inch and put in a .110 float. So. We know it will make a difference.
Making a needed bracket for the box and map sensor that needs to be close for some reason. Made it out of plastic plate not only to save weight put the aluminum for other projects. Like that I can connect my red alert to this box to shut down the engine if there is an issue.
Moved the fuel pressure around and found turning it down from almost ten pounds to eight pounds at idle fixed my "loading up" at constant speed. During the winter months, I need to remake the pipes because I am once again blowing them off when I turn the engine fast (like 6000 RPMs).
I have even pulled my heads to fix some valves, put them back on with the same Cometic gasket. Can't do that with traditional gasket.
Went to the chassis dyno friday. Thanks to Brandon front decorde automotive he got my carb issue figured out. Also made some good pulls. My 9.70 setup on 5 pounds peaking at 6 pounds of boost at 6000 rpm netted us 615 at the wheels. When we finished tuning we made a best of 691 horse and 594 torque at the wheels with a 22 percent slippage of the torque converter. That was a huge gain from carb tuning. Now it runs nice and safe and no more melting plugs. Or worse. We did make one pull at 12 pounds and it really like that. 807 and 691 at the wheels. Absolutely amazing with a broken converter. Do the math and it's over 1000 at flywheel.
I am using this TCI converter now on my boosted SBB as the last converter I had was also slipping big time like yours. http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/tci-251412
I have broken too many off the shelf converters. this converter broke because the rear broke and locked up the trans and broke the main shaft of the trans. too much power at 4000 pounds of weight. Converter is at ultimate converter concepts and lenny is going to fix it up for the new power increase. When that converter was made we thought the motor only made 750 at flywheel. I guess we were a little bit off. lol
Yes I agree custom converter is the way to go. I sent my TCI converter back to them and had them fine tune it for my combo, as I bought it for $300 used in the end I saved a bunch of money this way. My car is only 2980 pounds so that helps. Same deal with my car was not expected to see the power it is making.
Called Procharger today to find out how to adjust the new Big Red BOV. He told me it is ready to use out of the box and no other advice (Hmmmm). I asked what he thought of changing from 1.60 ratio to 1.65 ratio (which I am doing) is going to do to the boost. Like I thought it is going to lower it overall. I was at 10.1 pounds of boost and want to stay there for many reasons. The next size smaller to the 4.00 inch pulley I have is a 3.850 inch pulley. And what ever you do, do not say you are working on a Big Block Buick as they will not know anything then !