2.3 NF block with MC-1 head?

[JShadzi at aol.com]

>Thanks all, thanks brady for correcting my maths....and everyone else who
>reminded me that cr is dictated by the pistons in these motors.
>So a fundamental fly in my ointment.... As discussed I know I can not do
>anything with this compression ratio.... And I am not going to fork out on
>an a turbo bottom end....

"Fork Out", you mean, like $100-200 ???  The MC2 bottom end in my 80tq I paid $300 for back in 1999, been cranking out close to 400 crank hp in track trim without any problems (on the bottom end) for a while now, didn't even touch it aside from changing the crank seals.

>So I am thinking copper headgasket....
>www.headgasket.com
>Probably go for 8.2-8.5:1 just to be over safe!!

Bad idea, we used to do these at New Dimensions with the turbo kits, they work fine for low boost applications where the options are slim, but that just isn't your case, good turbo bottom ends are litterally dime a dozen, you'll likely spend $100+ on a copper gasket and another $25 for a second gasket when you could have the right, strong, factory bottom end for around $100.

>So to help me with my maths I need a good idea of the thickness of a
>standard head gasket compressed... any ideas?
>The copper gasket does have its pros and cons, but it is not much more
>expensive than a standard item, they reckon $75-90, although they do say it
>can leak.....

Yes, and they do leak, copper gaskets are hardly the solution...

>So if I am doing that then is it worth me replacing my ex valves with sodium
>items? How much do they cost?  

[Chuckle] with 2 organic gaskets sandwhiching a copper gasket exh. valve failure will be the least of your worries.  

Get the MC bottom end and do it right, sodium filled exh. valves aren't necessary, in fact some have been known to break cause they're hollow, I've run plenty of motors with steel vavles and no problems, but the sodium filled valves will drop right in to any of the heads too if you like.

Javad