.030" head gasket...... Worth it?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 16, 2014 | 12:56 AM

ridedaddy

Thread Starter

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 1,220

Likes: 14

From: chatham il

.030" head gasket...... Worth it?

2013 street glide, I'm installing a set of andrews 57h and s&s lifters. Is the comp bump of a cosmetic.030" head gasket worth the labor for this cam? Also if I'm taking the head off is there any benefit to using adjustable push rods or can I use the stockers and cut them out later if I'm doing work in the future and need them to keep from opening the top back up? I'm just not sure if the stockers will put the lifter near the center of the lifter bore or if the base circle of the 57h is the same as the stock cam for that matter? As always thanks for the knowledge.

Last edited by ridedaddy; Oct 16, 2014 at 12:59 AM.

Oct 16, 2014 | 10:49 AM

djl

HDF Community Team

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 12,774

Likes: 2,606

From: san antonio

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridedaddy

I am not positive about the 57 base circle but believe it to be about .020" smaller than stock. You could call Gary at Andrews and confirm. That being the case, I would install adjustable pushrods to mitigate against potential valve train noise that might result from the introduction of an extra .010" in the valve train stackup. The .030" head gasket is more about tightening up the squish band than increasing compression. I am afflicted with "tinkeritus"; a terrible affliction. The voices in my head would force me to pull the heads and install the .030" head gasket for both reasons, just because I can. However, I think the .030" head gasket decision is one you will have to make.

Oct 17, 2014 | 08:51 PM

UltraNutZ

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 14,670

Likes: 139

From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon

Ridedaddy. Djl is correct. No go on stockers.. already confirmed with Gary. Since I couldnt, I said what the hell and ported heads and installed .030

Static is now 10.38:1 with stock pistons

Oct 18, 2014 | 09:10 PM

HD Pilot

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 3,791

Likes: 57

From: N Texas

I like to work on my bike as much as riding, but even so I would not go to the trouble of taking my cylinder heads off just to put .030" head gaskets in. But with a big bore and/or headwork, now you have a really good reason to get to work.