MLS Head Gaskets Where to buy them??

[MyGt]

I'm looking for a set of MLS (Multi Layer Steal) Also known as kinetic head gaskets; for my 3.4 DOHC, and I need to find a company that makes them.

Any Help it will be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[brian89gp]

Nobody I know of. There are rumors that the 96-97 got MLS gaskets from GM, but I havn't found anyone to check nor have I called GM about it. All non-GM gaskets (Felpro, etc) list the same fiber gasket from 91-97, so thats a no go.

[MyGt]

I have a 96-97 engine, that I took apart, but I don't remember seen anything like that (MLS)??

It?s a shame if nobody has them available for out engines, I have heard nothing but the best from anyone who knows about these Gaskets.


A professional drag racer here in town is using them in his drag race car, and he is running 38Lbs of boost without on an over bore engine equals to small space, between cylinders, with one full season and not one problem!

[pontiacjeff]

That's "Cometic" head gaskets... the name of the company that makes MLS gaskets for most engines. Not sure if they have one for the 3400DOHC, you'll have to contact them. Search Yahoo... you'll find them.

[brian89gp]

I ran across this, it sounds a bit ghetto but I'm wondering how will it would work. Perhaps just the o-ringing part.

I went through hell and back trying to keep the heads on my 35 psi boost
Datsun Z-car engines. Like yours, the head is a bit shy of head bolts.
Among the things I've tried, solid copper headgasket, drilling the block
and head for 1/2" chrome-moly studs torqued to 200 ft-lbs and a wide
variety of elixirs. The copper head gasket worked if annealed dead soft
after each use and if used with O-ringing.

Then I decided to use science :-) My final solution required little work
and has been 100% reliable even in the face of engine wrecking detonation
There are two steps involved. This technique presumes an aluminum head.
Should work on iron heads but I've not tested it.

The first involves a standard FelPro gasket. Get some 16 ga 304
stainless wire. heat a length of it red hot and allow to cool
slowly until it is anealed. Carefully scrap the gunk from the
head side of the combustion chamber sealing ring on the gasket.
Bend the stainless wire into a circle the radius of the center
of this sealing ring. Using a superglue wire tacking kit
available for <20 bux from electronic supply houses, tack the
wire to the center of the sealing ring. The ends may either
butt together or better, slightly overlap. The wire tacking kit
contains superglue and an accelerator that makes the glue set on
contact. It is designed for tacking ECO wires to circuit
boards.

Step two. Prep the block and head. Both should be freshly
decked and clean. Obtain a common electric engraving pen of the
type used for anti-theft markings. Turn it on full stroke. The
tip must be very sharp. If not, sharpen it using a standard
green carbide wheel. Slant it at a 45 degree angle away from
the direction of travel. Imagine you're using it to plow up a
furrow of metal from the head or block. Use a very loose grip
so the tool can bounce. Rapidly stroke across the gasket
surface. The tip should bounce off the surface of the metal 120
times a second. Properly done, it will raise little divots
about every half millimeter or so. The top side of the divot
will be very sharp. I test my technique by dragging a shop rag
across the surface to see if the divots pick off lint. (boy I
wish I could include a drawing!) Treat the entire surface with
this technique. When finished, the surface should feel like
coarse sandpaper and have a sparkling sheen when viewed in
bright light.

/ <- engraver
/
/ <<<- direction of travel.
---------------------------- <- deck surface

How it works.

The stainless steel wire bites into the gasket with tremendous clamping
force and at the same time partially embeds itself into the aluminum
head. The little divots dig into the gasket material and after the
first heatup, have gasket material extruded into them. they form an
interlocking matrix that grips the gasket with great tenacity.
In fact, the only downside involves the fact that the gasket is clamped
so tightly that it becomes difficult to remove.

I assemble the head using as much torque as I can get away with. On
Z motors, I know this is about 100 ft-lbs (60 is spec.) I let it soak
awhile and loosen the bolts and torque to spec. This ensures the
wire gets a good bite. I warm the engine by running it on the test
stand, let it cool and loosen and retorque again.

[pontiacjeff]

Do NOTdo this, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brian89gp]

It does sound pretty odd.

So, what options are there:
MLS that would have to be custom made for my right arm and leg
Copper gaskets and o-ringing with a good probability of coolant leaks
Stock that probably will blow out a lot

[MyGt]

I found a place who sales the rough material, to make the MLS gaskets, if you want to I can find out how much is for couple yards?

I'm guessing that duplicating a new Head Gasket from an old one, can't be that bad??

Any one who knows what it?s needed to accomplish this??

[MyGt]

I found a place who sales the rough material, to make the MLS gaskets, if you want to I can find out how much is for couple yards?

I'm guessing that duplicating a new Head Gasket from an old one, can't be that bad??

Any one who knows what it?s needed to accomplish this??

[pocket-rocket]

Do NOTdo this, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just out of curiosity, why not? I am not doubting you, I just want to hear some explaination on it. It does sound pretty odd.

[brian89gp]

Do NOTdo this, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just out of curiosity, why not? I am not doubting you, I just want to hear some explaination on it. It does sound pretty odd.

Gouging the deck surfaces makes me shudder, but I am wondering why a light guage wire o-ring would't work too.

[Cool_The_Slain]

I'm no expert at all, but in this one old straght six engine that I was doing something with (from our tug at an airport) the head had several small pits that looked similar to what would have been made with an engraver. When I talked to one of our aircraft mechanics he told me that they were there to help seal the head to the gasket. However, these pits were only around the combustion chambers, not the whole head. I can't remember for sure, but the block may have had this too.

[dykz34]

Didn't Chris West o-ring his block or heads when he boosted his DOHC in the Fiero? I'll try and find the link to the pictures.... I remember Brian sent me the link.

[dykz34]

I believe this was the link, but it's not working for me now: http://fieros.westcoastfiero.com/pix/photos/

[Cool_The_Slain]

Is this the car you are talking about? http://fieroswest.westcoastfiero.com...est/index.html