Any one have pics of fire rings/steps cut into heads and block for hi power builds ?

[BigRich954RR]

I keep hearing about steps cut into the block and heads to help with seal on high hp engine.

Ive heard about a bunch of different style of cutting into the head and block to keep the sealing of high boost in.

How many different ways are there ?
Are they all the same way just named different?
Which is the best?
If there are diferent ways what the pros/cons of each?
Are some better for sleeved alum block over a iron block ?
Anyone got pics ?

[Powerwagon64]

Try the search option in the performance section.
I am going with fire rings , cut into head only. This is a very debatable topic. I chose firerings because best shop in this area recommends them.

[SFmonster]

Originally Posted by BigRich954RR

I keep hearing about steps cut into the block and heads to help with seal on high hp engine.

Ive heard about a bunch of different style of cutting into the head and block to keep the sealing of high boost in.

How many different ways are there ?
Are they all the same way just named different?
Which is the best?
If there are diferent ways what the pros/cons of each?
Are some better for sleeved alum block over a iron block ?
Anyone got pics ?

Well using a fire ring or O ring will help but I know alot of people who use fatory head gaskets.. with over 1000hp and no issues.. I wouldn't do it personally..especially a CR ..I have heard to many stories of it not lasting.. and then when you use big cams.. most often you need relief cuts in the pistons so they don't contact each other..any machine shop can perform that task.. not to expensive.. and if you have them out and can't afford "race" pistons you could have them coated which isn't to bad..

[nicocummins]

[QUOTE=BigRich954RR;3067185]
Are some better for sleeved alum block over a iron block ?
QUOTE]

Cummins aluminium block?..

[BigRich954RR]

[quote=nicocummins;3378714]

Originally Posted by BigRich954RR

Are some better for sleeved alum block over a iron block ?
QUOTE]

Cummins aluminium block?..

LOL i got started here because i knew you guys ran tons of boost on the motors. I was looking for a way to seal up my racing engine to higher boost levels which is a alum/sleeved block.

But after looking around here for a while my car is on hold and im saving for a truck which i plan to add some of my Car tricks to the truck. And hoping by then ill have more money so i can work on both.

That's why i was looking for pics so i could see how they work.

[nicocummins]

Let's build a turbo 954RR!!

[BigRich954RR]

lol i cant barely keep the front wheel down now cant even think what would happen with a turbo 954

[cj26]

FYI, here is a gasket I cut other day. I made the fire rings as well. It's for a 1998.5-2002 24V engine. I don't know anything about reliability issues, but people keep ordering them.

[nicocummins]

Originally Posted by cj26

FYI, here is a gasket I cut other day. I made the fire rings as well. It's for a 1998.5-2002 24V engine. I don't know anything about reliability issues, but people keep ordering them.

Nice...Grooves are needed too? Where do grooves do better?Head or block?

[cj26]

Originally Posted by nicocummins

Nice...Grooves are needed too? Where do grooves do better?Head or block?

Grooves are needed for the fire rings. I have however made much thicker, rigid gaskets with a solid steel core that don't compress very much with the fire rings being about .010"-0.015" thicker than the gasket. In this case grooves don't need to be cut because the idea is that the fire ring will compress that .010"-.015" down to the gasket.

These rigid gaskets work very well on tractor pulling engines that aren't running coolant due to the fact that they won't compress enough to seal the coolant. Unless they use some kind of gasket sealant from the parts store. Tractor pulling guys just need the fire ring and gasket to hold up to extreme pressures for a short period of time. Then they tear it down and do it all over again. The gasket won't blow because there is nowhere for the fire ring to go since it is backed up by a solid steel gasket body.

I am not a machinist or engine builder, so I can't say which is better to machine, the head or the block. It seems to me that it would be easier to just machine the head though.

[nicocummins]