Head gasket for 3.2

[Geronimo '74]

While disassembling my engine I noticed that one of the PO's installed (or had installed) cilinder head gaskets on cilinders 1, 2 and 3 (left side of engine)
The other side (cil 4, 5 and 6) were as they left the factory, without gasket)
The cilinders were grooved and the (metal) gasket was installed.
Probably to solve a leakage/seapage problem.

I am planning to renew these gaskets and and have the other side done as well.

Can I use the gaskets of the 3.0 litre? I would say yes since the diamater is the same for both types of cilinders (95mm).

Can someone pleas confirm that I can safely use the 3.0 litre gaskets?

Thanks guys!

[Mark Henry]

Sounds like you have 3.0 cylinders, 3.0 have a head gasket (and groove) and IIRC 3.2 does not.

[Geronimo '74]

Damn, I hadn't even thuoght of that.
I assumed the PO had the original cilinder grooved and placed a gasket.
Now you say they just used 3.0l cilinders which sounds plausible to me.... I sure hope you're wrong.
If they're all the original cilinders, I will just have cil 4,5 and 6 grooved and gaskets inserted.
If they're a mix of 3.0 and 3.2 cilinders.... I won't like that one bit.
Then I might as well go 3.4 which will cost me an arm and a leg....

Need to check partnumbers.
Thanks for the heads up!

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

Damn, I hadn't even thuoght of that.
I assumed the PO had the original cilinder grooved and placed a gasket.
Now you say they just used 3.0l cilinders which sounds plausible to me.... I sure hope you're wrong.
If they're all the original cilinders, I will just have cil 4,5 and 6 grooved and gaskets inserted.
If they're a mix of 3.0 and 3.2 cilinders.... I won't like that one bit.
Then I might as well go 3.4 which will cost me an arm and a leg....

Need to check partnumbers.
Thanks for the heads up!

JMHO,........

I wouldn't be in a big hurry to machine the cylinders for CE rings unless the car never sees a track. Mahle did that for a purpose on the 3.2's and that was to eliminate cylinder breakage from detonation as the thin lip between the bore and CE ring groove tended to fracture.

The MM 98mm P/C's have no CE rings and thats really a VERY nice upgrade,....

[Geronimo '74]

Steve, thanks for the reply.

My car is a 95% street car.
you said not to machine them unless it never sees a track. So you mean street use only then. I should have them machined?
What are you thoughts on using cilinders from a 3.0 and 3.2 on the same engine?
Lets say the PO (or his mechanic) replaced the original cilinders with 3.0 litre items, instead of having the originals machined.
Would it be wise to keep on using this combo???
If this is the case, I'd rather replace all of them for new ones (and go 3.4 of course) but that would be a considerable financial set back. Not that I'll be living on water and bread but it would be much more than I originaly planned.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

Steve, thanks for the reply.

My car is a 95% street car.
you said not to machine them unless it never sees a track. So you mean street use only then. I should have them machined?

I'd need a lot more information about your engine, what octane fuel you use and how you drive before I could offer anything constructive.

What are you thoughts on using cilinders from a 3.0 and 3.2 on the same engine?
Lets say the PO (or his mechanic) replaced the original cilinders with 3.0 litre items, instead of having the originals machined.
Would it be wise to keep on using this combo???

I see no harm in this as long as the gasketed ones are installed on the same side and deck heights are the same for each bank of cylinders.

If this is the case, I'd rather replace all of them for new ones (and go 3.4 of course) but that would be a considerable financial set back. Not that I'll be living on water and bread but it would be much more than I originaly planned.

I sure understand about the financial aspect of this project but you can use your existing setup with the above Caveat. I'll assume that the piston ring lands are all within tolerance as thats where they exhibit the most wear.

If you can see a way to swing it, the MM 98mm P/C's provide very substantial improvements in torque & power.

[Geronimo '74]

We have 98 octane over here (the same as the 93 RON in the US I believe)
The engine has some mods already and more planned. (Hotwire system I already have, bored out throttle body, cams and SSI's are still to come.)
I am aiming for 260+ HP.
My driving style is sporty.... Miss Daisy does not ride with me.

The cilinders that already have the groove and the gasket are from the left side of the engine and will go in the same spot, of course.

3.4 was the original plan which I aborted for financial reasons but I would love to go that route, I just need a good excuse....

[Henry Schmidt]

Back in the day when cylinders variety and availability was far less than today, we would take the cylinders that had CE ring and fill the groove with a high temp oven cured epoxy. After they were hand lapped for smoothness, the epoxy created a nice flat continuation of the sealing surface and added structural support to the inner cylinder lip.
Considering your stated interest in the merit of frugality, I see no reason why this modification wouldn't be a decent option for you.

[Geronimo '74]

Henry,

Would that option be prefered over having the other cilinders machined as well??
I have never heard doing it that way, and I doubt that many mechanics over here will have...



(BTW, did you get my email?? I tried contacting you via the Supertec site and via the email in your sig)

[Henry Schmidt]

Perhaps one of the only good things about being on a limited budget is the fact that "necessity is the mother of invention".
When your budget is limited you try things that others might not.
Of course many of the things you try prove to be abject failures but this technique (epoxy filled groove) proved quite successful.
Remember that this was used primarily in racing applications and with frequent rebuilds the success could be monitored.

Grooving the other cylinders could work but that process requires a highly skilled machinist and specialized tooling. A lot of bother for very little positive effect.

It might be more cost effective to just buy 3.0 cylinder. I'm sure we have a plethora of good used cylinder in stock.

[Geronimo '74]

Thanks for the advice, Henry.

I'm first going to see which cil I have, 3.0 or 3.2s.
I'll be back tomorrow.


(got your message, thanks, expect my reply tomorrow!)