Is there a thin economicaly priced MLS gasket or thin graphite gasket on the market for a 4.00" bore? I have searched for the better part of the afternoon and all I have come up with are:
Cometic MLS - .045 or .051 don't know which and expensive
GM 6.0 MLS - .060
FelPro 9199 Steel Laminate - no idea on the thickness
For all I know there is not even a 4.00" graphite GenIII gasket made. Any other gasket options other than the ones I have listed?

 

Check out one of these
http://www.scegaskets.com/products/index.html
I got the titans for my new setup

 

Felpro makes a .043 thick MLS gasket on a 4.1" bore. Its their model 1041. Its a good gasket, cheaper than the comptic but more than stock GM MLS gaskets.



GM does make a graphite gasket, but I think its thicker than their MLS gasket.

 

cometic is good

 

why stick with mls?
Ive always heard copper type gaskets were supperior for race apps

 

how do you determine what gasket would be best to use? I am rebuilding my LQ9 6.0 with a 230/236 @ 50 .591/601 110 comp cam with stage 2 LS6 heads and I am trying to figure out what gaskets I should go with for valve clearence? I am using the stock flat top pistons.

 

Quench is the main concern when choosing head gaskets. Most people seem to think .035"-.040" is a good dimension for quench. THe FI guys seem to like the MLS gaskets for sealing well with forced induction.

You might have to flycut your pistons depending on the size of the cam and your piston to valve clearance.

 

Wouldn't the extra .100" cause a problem with carbon buildup in the gap and cause hotspots?

 

I run the 9199PT Felpro head gasket,because the graphite is compatable with the steel o-rings on my TEA heads and it is .55" thick which gives me more piston to head clearance.

 

I am not building a race motor. I just want to get a motor together to get my truck running again. It is just a lq4 shortblock that is getting new bearings and rings, mildly ported 241 heads and probablly a Futral F10 cam. My 5.3 just broke at a bad time and I am tring to get by as economicly as I can but still have a good performing, reliable motor.

As for the copper gaskets, I understand they seal very well as long as the heads are retorqued regularly. That is not something I want to do. Not to mention they are just as pricy as the Cometics.