Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) To o-ring of Fire ring Head

[firemanmarc]

Hello, me thinks I blew a gasket... I am running 34-35lbs. boost on stock hX-35. I want to upgrade to hX-40 soon. Would I be best to oring head or fire ring it... I am in process of buying studs, would that and a stock gasket be ok til I switch to hX-40, or should I go ahead and do it now when I get the head off??? Thank you very much. . Marc

 

[JGheen]

If your head gasket is leaking and your going to remove the head, you may as well just o-ring it and install some ARP studs. Your stock headgasket should be good to about 50-60psi of boost, depending on drive pressure.

 

[Bandit1]

oring the head, if you have it done by a pro firerings are pretty much blow proof (they do and have blown) if they are done correctly, plus i feel more confident with the 14mm studs. orings have held alot of boost if they are installed correctly, given time to seat and many retorques are done. Jim Fulmers has held very well as well as many others. fire rings is just a step further, they are used on many pulling tractors, including my buddies single charge JD and his dads triple that pushes 200+ psi of boost.

 

[firemanmarc]

I am not losing coolant. Just have presence of combustion gas in coolant. I plan on trying to retorque it and see what happens. I was hoping to get to winter when OT comes and I don't have time to work on it... ... . I have a good shop close by that did the head in my pulling tractor. I just didn't know what the stock gasket could take... Thanks, Marc

 

[Bandit1]

in that case, i blew my stock gasket at 32lbs from my stock hx35, stock injectors, and just a #5 plate. mine would just puke coolant out of the overflow bottle when i ran it half hard, and finally it blew and i had coolant in the cylinders.

 

[HeavyHauler]

Can anyone tell me the differences in o-rings and fire-rings? I'm planning on doing the studs and fire-rings this winter just because I know that's what's best, but I'm embarrased to say that I really don't know what sets them apart from o-rings. Thanks.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

The name of the post makes no since, but I have about 50K worth of trouble free service with an O-ring in the head!



Jim

 

[TrqMonster]

Scheid Diesel fire-ringed my engine and added 12mm studs. No problems yet in almost a year with a Scheid turbo at 55-60 PSI. Blew the stock head gasket with the HX-35 and no plate.



Fire-rings may be overkill now but some day I would like to move up to twins.

 

[BIG C]

The name of the post makes no since, but I have about 50K worth of trouble free service with an O-ring in the head!



Jim

of = or



since = sense ???

 

[Bandit1]

oringed head is a small groove cut in the head and a small wire pressed tightly in the groove (there is a joint) a stock gasket is used and the oring adds extra compression or downward force on the stock compression rign of the HG. fire rings is a larger steel wire tha tis welded in a ring (essentially one piece) and is compressed inbetween a groove that is cut in both the head and the block. a modified gasket is used with fire rings.

 

[HeavyHauler]

Thank you!

 

[firemanmarc]

I am sorry my post made no since. . I just wanted some trusted input from ya' folks. And thank you very much for all the replies. I knew I could count on you guys to help. . Thank you very much, Marc

 

[FordCummins]

fire rings is a larger steel wire that is welded in a ring (essentially one piece) and is compressed inbetween a groove that is cut in both the head and the block. a modified gasket is used with fire rings.

When Scheid cut the fire rings for my motor, they only did them in the block, and not the head... ...

 

[Bandit1]

i have heard of that, i just didnt want to get into every single detail there is.

 

[jdooner]

Touche`...

 

[Bandit1]

i never meant anything to be taken as touche', i just said that i have heard of that, i just didnt want to explain every angle that different designers take, everyting i said was meant purely positive information to help a fellow member out.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

I am sorry my post made no since. . I just wanted some trusted input from ya' folks. And thank you very much for all the replies. I knew I could count on you guys to help. . Thank you very much, Marc

We're just picking on you! I've seen people have good and bad luck with both!

My setup was talked about allot cause I never had an issue with it at 65-80 psi using 12mm's, there is a reason, and yes I still have the old head gasket for viewing!



Jim