After having ongoing pressure problems in the cooling system, we thought we would pop the head off this is what we found,
Now why? Head lift, det damage, too hot, or just dodgy gasket?
We did run just over 2 bar on a t38 407hp, genuine st170 gasket.
What's your thoughts guys?

 

Maybe just unlucky mate, dont hear of many head gasket failures on theses really.

 

Now we are thinking that we lifted the head, it's been pressure tested and skimmed today, so we will try again with some arp studs this time.

 

what type of gasket is the st170 mate? MLS?

as i used a focus RS MLS on mine and that was 28psi 397bhp/386lbft with focus rs head bolts

granted i only done about 200 miles in it tho

 

gasket looks like it just got hot mate but that could of happend after it let go. did you use gen ford head bolts ? and did you torque them down to silvertop settings or blacktop ?

 

all blacktop head gaskets are mls only the silvertop has the shity fibre gasket

 

ah ok mate. as said i used the std frs one and bolts but didnt have the car on the road long.

it was nigh on flat out for that 200 miles tho lol

 

Yea gen 4 layer gasket, pattern bolts though, but was told that would not make much difference? We seem water temps of 105C on the dyno is that enough to harm it?
What ever did it, it happened whilst mapping, and only was a niggle when on track that it use to push water out the header cap, at least it's not a cracked head!

 

Yea Gary set torqued down to Ian's spec of three then 105 degrees to finish

 

na 105c is nothing on a zetec

 

Think it must be head lift then? Stuck in a catch22 now strip completely and go m12 or stick some arp's in it and go again?

 

know how you feel. ive just done a m12 conversion on mine but only because its in bits lol.never had a problem the way it was but planning on running more power through it next year

 

As I said in other thread I asked Ian about doing the m12 bolts, he said no need to jump on bandwagon lol he's never had an issue with head lift if good quality parts are used.

 

Think we will give the arp,s a shot and keep our fingers crossed, never going to be pushing the boundarys on the power front just want a reliable motor! At least the manifold good now!