[Vwdiesel] Head gaskets

[Libbybapa at wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 6/20/06 10:59:55 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
hwy9fergs at comcast.net writes:


> If the head is stock, I agree you would want to go with the original method 
> and figure it by measuring the piston protrusion. But if your head got 
> "trimmed"  (WHICH THE MANUALS SAY IS A NO NO) wouldn't it make sense to go with 
> the next thicker head gasket?  Especially if enough got trimmed off that they 
> even took some off the precups.  I would say especially then, you want to go 
> with the thicker gasket. Another thing to consider is that there are also the 
> clearance issues in addition to the compression isssue IMHO.  It's mighty 
> tight in there!!
> 

The head is flat including the combustion area of the main chamber.  If 
material is removed from that face, then there might be an extremely slight rise in 
compression from the fact that material is not removed from the valve areas 
and the precup openings.  But, if using a thicker gasket to compensate for the 
trimming of the head, then you will be dropping compression due to the fact 
that in all of the other areas of the combustion chamber (most of it) you would 
be replacing metal with space.

Andrew