Swapping to thin head gasket on cammed TC96?
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 15
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From: Colorado
Swapping to thin head gasket on cammed TC96?
I recently upgraded my 2008 FXD TC96 with a set of SE204 cams and am really liking how it made the bike run compared to stock. I was wondering if there is a bit more to be had and was thinking of swapping to a thinner head gasket to achieve higher compression & improved squish band.
Cometic told me they would sell me a .018 MLS head gasket so I plugged it into the big boyz calculator and got the following data. Stock VS the .018 keeping all else the same.
Would it be a worthwhile upgrade to swap this out to gain the .55 points of compression for the $50 the gaskets cost? (i already have adjustable pushrods)
Any problems running such a thin gasket on these motors?
I live in colorado at 5200' elevation and often ride around in areas around 8000'.
data from the calculator:
.045 head gasket (stock)
Static Compression 9.25:1
Cold Cranking Compression 178.1@Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 153.4@5200 Feet Above Sea Level
With .018 head gasket
Static Compression 9.80:1
Cold Cranking Compression 191.8 @ Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 163.5 @ 5200 Feet Above Sea Level
Cometic told me they would sell me a .018 MLS head gasket so I plugged it into the big boyz calculator and got the following data. Stock VS the .018 keeping all else the same.
Would it be a worthwhile upgrade to swap this out to gain the .55 points of compression for the $50 the gaskets cost? (i already have adjustable pushrods)
Any problems running such a thin gasket on these motors?
I live in colorado at 5200' elevation and often ride around in areas around 8000'.
data from the calculator:
.045 head gasket (stock)
Static Compression 9.25:1
Cold Cranking Compression 178.1@Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 153.4@5200 Feet Above Sea Level
With .018 head gasket
Static Compression 9.80:1
Cold Cranking Compression 191.8 @ Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 163.5 @ 5200 Feet Above Sea Level
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 624
From: deland,florida
you really want to cc the heads to find out exactly where your at in reality,compression wise.have the heads milled for desired compression with .030 head gaskets (204`s get set @ 10.0-1 here).018 is too thin on a street motor,IMO
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
I recently upgraded my 2008 FXD TC96 with a set of SE204 cams and am really liking how it made the bike run compared to stock. I was wondering if there is a bit more to be had and was thinking of swapping to a thinner head gasket to achieve higher compression & improved squish band.
Cometic told me they would sell me a .018 MLS head gasket so I plugged it into the big boyz calculator and got the following data. Stock VS the .018 keeping all else the same.
Would it be a worthwhile upgrade to swap this out to gain the .55 points of compression for the $50 the gaskets cost? (i already have adjustable pushrods)
Any problems running such a thin gasket on these motors?
I live in colorado at 5200' elevation and often ride around in areas around 8000'.
data from the calculator:
.045 head gasket (stock)
Static Compression 9.25:1
Cold Cranking Compression 178.1@Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 153.4@5200 Feet Above Sea Level
With .018 head gasket
Static Compression 9.80:1
Cold Cranking Compression 191.8 @ Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 163.5 @ 5200 Feet Above Sea Level
Cometic told me they would sell me a .018 MLS head gasket so I plugged it into the big boyz calculator and got the following data. Stock VS the .018 keeping all else the same.
Would it be a worthwhile upgrade to swap this out to gain the .55 points of compression for the $50 the gaskets cost? (i already have adjustable pushrods)
Any problems running such a thin gasket on these motors?
I live in colorado at 5200' elevation and often ride around in areas around 8000'.
data from the calculator:
.045 head gasket (stock)
Static Compression 9.25:1
Cold Cranking Compression 178.1@Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 153.4@5200 Feet Above Sea Level
With .018 head gasket
Static Compression 9.80:1
Cold Cranking Compression 191.8 @ Sea Level
Cold Cranking Compression 163.5 @ 5200 Feet Above Sea Level
With an .018" head gasket, I'd bet good money you'd be swatting the head with the piston carbon in very short order.
Bore to 103", with a .030" and kill 2 stones with one bird.
Scott
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Colorado
im interested in doing it partially because the cost would be so low as I'm doing the wrenching, and no downtime for sending the heads out.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,998
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From: Iowa
+1 your heads are probably around 88 cc instead of the reported 85 and .030 is the lowest I would go on a street bike
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
what is an ideal squish distance to maintain on a street motor? Any reason I can't do this dirt bike style and use solder and order my gasket to the ideal spec?
im interested in doing it partially because the cost would be so low as I'm doing the wrenching, and no downtime for sending the heads out.
im interested in doing it partially because the cost would be so low as I'm doing the wrenching, and no downtime for sending the heads out.
.030".
We used .020" on our AHDRA Mod Class racer years ago, no carbon whatsoever, and trust me, you don't want it any closer.
Scott
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,239
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From: virginia
Not to change the subject, but what is piston to valve clearance on a 103". Would I need to check clearance if I go to a .030 for a little cheap compression and would it be worth it? Andrews 54 cams are installed. Thanks, Bill
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: san antonio
.030" as previously posted. JMHO but pulling the heads to install a .030" head gasket is not worth the effort unless head work is part of the plan.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,776
Likes: 2,607
From: san antonio
what is an ideal squish distance to maintain on a street motor? Any reason I can't do this dirt bike style and use solder and order my gasket to the ideal spec? im interested in doing it partially because the cost would be so low as I'm doing the wrenching, and no downtime for sending the heads out.