Stock Headgasket motor

[sylquebec]

Hi, i have a 1990 mkIII who still have the stock headgasket. I bought it 9000km ago with 65 000km from the original owner. I was shock when i retorque the stock head bolt to 74 lbs that i was the first one to remove a bolt under the hood. Anything was touch. Now it run fine but still on stock retorque headgasket. I want to do the Fuelpump/afpr/550/lex afm/SAFC mod on it but i'm not sure if its a good idea on stock headgasket. I dont really want to remove the block and head to get it preped for a metal HG.

So here is my question : I have a set of brand new ARP stud. SHould i remove the head and get it to a machine shop, throw a new Toyota headgasket with my ARP stud
Or should i let it as it is right now. DO i need to to get the head deck since it never been BHG? I think going that way will simply leave me at the same point i am right now+the arp stud.

Current mod are full 3 inch exaust, 10PSI boost controler and apexi intake.

 

[TweeT91109]

at stock boost u should be fine. But with upgrading all those things your next thing would be a turbo. honestly if your going to have the motor already apart, just spend the extra money and have a reputable machine shop in your area, going ahead and decked the block, and probably just clean the surface of the head...being that when you take the head off there will be left over composite material. then after you have spent all that money, get the metal head gasket and ARP hardware so you can run the extra power with no worries of the gasket.

 

[Devin LeBlanc]

The stock OEM gasket can hold close to or 500Hp with no problems if installed correctly.. I would recommend to a CT26 57 trim turbo next with those other upgrades, however I would do the exact opposite.. Pull the head have the head machined and just clean the block, the block should not be warped at all and for a composite gasket you don't need to deck it, just clean the old material off with a razor blade/gasket scraper and wipe it down with alcohol.. Throw a new gasket on make sure it is a Asin, Ishino, or Toyota gasket with the ARP's and you will be good to go

 

[boostcraver]

The stock OEM gasket can hold close to or 500Hp with no problems if installed correctly.. I would recommend to a CT26 57 trim turbo next with those other upgrades, however I would do the exact opposite.. Pull the head have the head machined and just clean the block, the block should not be warped at all and for a composite gasket you don't need to deck it, just clean the old material off with a razor blade/gasket scraper and wipe it down with alcohol.. Throw a new gasket on make sure it is a Asin, Ishino, or Toyota gasket with the ARP's and you will be good to go

In addition to the above, I wouldn't go anymore than 75 ft. lbs. on a stock HG. The MLS gaskets will withstand a little more squeeze. My last one was torqued to 85 ft. lbs. with a 2mm MLS HKS gasket