18psi

iTrader: (76)

When I say it sucks, I'm talking about boosted Miata engines specifically.
I don't have a 1.6, I don't like to waste money on inferior engines, but from much discussion previously it was deemed crap. I'll let Savington or someone else thats build 1.6's before chime in here.

timk

The Cometic one is MLS anyway, just like the OEM one.

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

You guys are not experts, neither am I. But to your knowledge 1.6 gasket is not MLS but composite. 1.8 uses MLS.

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

I am going to go with oem gasket. I looked at the one that was there and it looks oem to me. Even though the builder told me he put a cometic one in. It was holding fine so that's what I am going to stick with.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

I do not think Cometic makes a composite head gasket.....just MLS

So it sounds like your builder lied to you about the HG.... what else could he lied about?

Check the pistons now you have the head off.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Looks like him and his builder are both equially stubborn and ignorant.

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

I checked the pistons and cylinder walls and they look pretty good actaully,

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Do they say "supertech" on the pistons???

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

Did not check that.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Maybe you should.....

Check your invoice and see if you were billed for the Cometic HG also

the piston will have "supertech" just printed on the top...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...2&d=1334706746

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

Talked to the guy that did the valve job and he is saying that possibly high positive crank case pressure or valve cover pressure caused the seals to leak? Is this even freaking possible?

I would say that i would probably have blown the oil dip stick out first.

Can somebody give me torque specs for arp head studs and the 3 stages that they need to be tighten in.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Geesh.... what a line.....

true if the crank case pressure got that high... the dip sitck would pop, unless tied down.

Cam seals would leak, rear main would leak, fronk crank seal would leak if you had that much pressure build up.

Now if you had that much pressure it would be pushing down and around the valve stem seal, and it would cause it to seal better, not worse...

On the intake side, when the engine is off boost, the vacuume would suck oil down the guide in the runner... bad or cheap seals.
On boost.. air will blow up the guide

Unless you have excessive valve stem wear, or guide wear this should not be an issue

hard crusty valve stem seals should not be an issue since the head has what... maybe 1000 miles on it by now????

Cheap, non-vition seals, may be an issue, most vition seals are brite blue in color

NOT, Black, grey or orange/red... orange/red is a low temp vition

This is just a general rule of thumb on the color codeing

Have you read the catch can link I posted for you and hooked it up that way yet?

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

I did read the catch can post. Thank you.

How is this look?

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

I would not trust the block surface.... whom ever did that with the rol-loc did nother but screw you... you have rounded edges now.

In now way should you even think of using a MLS head gasket with out having the block decked..



I have questions if a composite would even seal...
I would bet inside the red circle it is "peaked" due to the way the swirl marks are.

How to deck a block
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/how-deck-4-cylinder-engine-block-64577/

Head Gasket Repair-How to Clean the block surface w/ pistons installed
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/head-gasket-repair-how-clean-block-surface-w-pistons-installed-65074/

Personally, if it was mine, I would pull it apart and have it decked, all I see is head gasket sealing issues...

Plus what gives with the blue paint on the gasket surface??

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

I am not pulling the motor out. I a so ------- sick of this car that I am just going to have the good head I have resurfaced and cleaned and will put it all back together with oem gasket. And will just sell this damn thing. As much as I hate to do this. This whole problem is pretty much ruining my marriage and my well being.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Sorry Dude.... I know you been thu hell with this build.... you got screwed... I do not know what machinist or builder you used...

Be carefull whan you have the other head surfaced, some cleaners that shops use will kill the valve stem seals in short order.

Why NOT to let your head be belt surfaced
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/why-not-let-your-head-belt-surfaced-64394/

How to resurface an Aluminum Head For a MLS head gasket.
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...818#post863818

You may try this, to get the block a bit flatter....

Pull the head studs and the alignment dowels...

cover the gasket surface with sharpie marker or tool layout dye

then....

Head Gasket Repair-How to Clean the block surface w/ pistons installed
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthread.php?t=65074

The ink/dye will show the low spots.... and hopefully, with care and some paintance you may be able to flatten the peaks some to gibe the HG a better chance at sealing... This is very much a back yard method.. but can work...

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

Than you for all the suggestions. I will keep everybody posted on the progress. I dropped the heads off at a reputable headshop. Same as the one that did my other head that I am having cleaned and measures for warp. They will jet clean it for me so ita nice and clean.

I already used the rubber bristle attachment to an air sander. I did that with my old motor and it worked pretty well. I will have to clean the piston walls tho now. Pretty sure some of the crap got inside the cylinders.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Rushin... I honestly am trying to help you....

First, can you admit I do this a bit more often than you? And maybe, just maybe, I know what I am talking about?

If you would have done what is in the link Head gasket repair, One you would not have crud between the cylinder wall and the piston crown. The greese would have caught it.

also the little rubber finger thing you used is fine for getting the old gasket material off the block, but did nothing to help flatten the peaks left by the rol-loc.

Rushin

iTrader: (3)

What's rol-loc?

The flue stuff you see is probably a reflection. The block looks pretty clean. But I like the sharpee idea.

BogusSVO

iTrader: (1)

Look in here...

https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...665#post862665

First pic shows a rol-loc....

look at the pic you posted back by the bell housing...
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1340120085

not a reflection... but if you got it gone, good. Thats all that matters.

If you also look at the pic, you will see what concerns me, about the head gasket sealing surface, it is in a red circle.