MLS headgasket

[canyonsvo]

Anyone using one? Thoughts? Dropped the engine off at the machine shop and it's apparent that the headgasket popped. We were running a "better" than stock one, but I can't remember what it was. After looking at the gasket it is now obvious what the black stuff in the coolant was. We are using head studs and the machine shop recommended the MLS unit.

[SVOeric]

MLS gasket is a cometic gasket -- it's a good gasket.
The good news is, if the surfaces are PERFECT, it will seal PERFECT!
if they aren't -- it's going to leak like a siv.

if you are not getting the surfaces machined, you're better off going with standard felpro, or mahle type gaskets.

Head studs on these heads can be problematic. you need to be very careful about torque. Those torque numbers need to be done correctly.
-- 95 flb torque (if memory serves) is the max numer
if you were to, add oil, for example, while torquing -- you'll end up with 105-120 -- which will warp the head.

[rickshaw]

Sort of late to weigh in here but I just built up my engine with the Cometic MLS CHG. SVOeric is correct about attention to surface finish. As it was, I had BoPort prepare my head and they machined it as smooth as a baby's butt for me. What I did to the block was wet sand this with 400 grit, which cleaned everything up after 35 years of staining. If you are having your block machined, you can get what you need. There were still some obvious light milling marks remaining on mine. So before installing the gasket/head, I applied a very thin coat of Permatex black RTV on the deck around the perimeter where this matches the gasket embossment seal. Then I put on the gasket and cylinder head and installed new head bolts (Fel-Pro). Previously I had chased all the head bolt threads as there was rust on the exhaust side bolts. Bolts were lightly oiled and were angle controlled tightened. So brought all bolts to an initial torque like 55 lb-ft and then added 90

[rickshaw]

Here photo of the Cometic gasket on my block