Buick Grand National: Engine Freshen Up Part 8: Champion CNC Heads - Cometic Head Gaskets

[@ppdntn1]

One does not need copper coat on cometics. I have early steal single layer gaskets and I SPARINGLY use CC on them.

[@TurboBuRick]

Nope, cometics have a viton coating. Anything put on the gasket is contamination. Follow manufacturers recommendations for best results. Install clean and dry.

[@ppdntn1]

Aluminum stage I & II heads are hard to find. They have huge ports, that are not practicle on a street/strip engine. We have another "d0n't kn0w nuthin" in the comments. "Kn0w nuthin" can't spell either it's they're not "there" heavier.

[@J-Finelli231]

Uh, you spelled practical wrong. 🤦‍♂

[@rle1020]

Downsides with the irons are they are prone to cracking. You can only run a .550 lift max. There heavier vs the aluminum heads. But plenty of people have gone very fast with them. My buddy goes 8s with champion irons on his Buick. I have the old school first gen champion aluminum gn1 heads that were prone to cracking also. But from what I been told that mostly happened with the 14 bolt heads and not the 8 bolt heads. Love the build. Not many detailed builds like yours on KZbin.

[@J-Finelli231]

Thanks. And thanks for adding that info for people watching.

[@btchhopperou812]

Just to add 1 more thing... I believe it was the guy at Champion told me this when I went in to get my heads, lifters, rails and manifolds/plenums, the ALUMINUM heads also detonate less because of(this is the part I can't quite remember- DON'T do drugs in excess kids!) aluminum transfers heat bettter and/or the shape of the chambers give a more uniform burn. Anyways, I was sold on the Alumies, but THEY WERE OUT, just MY luck! So being the impatient person I am- instant gratification ala CNC irons was the deal. PS- DO NOT go into that shop with a pocket o' cash... or an empty CC as It can be dangerous to your financial well-being!

[@tensecondbuickgn]

I was told to separate the cometics by Weber Racing here in Ohio and spray each layer with copper spray-a-gasket and they still seep out of the back of the head. Nothing drastic but it IS annoying

[@J-Finelli231]

I’m familiar with that method and have done it before. I like it because the layers have contamination between them so I like them cleaned. I don’t like it because it makes a big complicated mess with all the sprayed layers. Cometic themselves have recommended the gaskets be installed dry for at least 20 years. I just spray the outer layer because my block wasn’t machined. If it was, I would have possibly put them on dry. Depend on my mood. This way has sealed for me with 100’s of 30psi pulls over the years

[@robertbarnett4270]

Thanks for making this vid

[@btchhopperou812]

LOVE the vids brother! Finally getting my TR in order after being in a holding pattern for a year and a half. Seems like you are taking your time reacquainting you and the venerable 231 we love so dearly. Sorry in advance for my comments I make that may offend anyone- it is not my intent, as usually, I'm making fun of myself for past and present foolishness. Looking forward to checking out more of your work, and thanks for putting the effort/time into the vids. Subbed, and always a thumbs up from me! ML

[@J-Finelli231]

Thank you and good luck with your build.

[@btchhopperou812]

@@J-Finelli231 You're welcome, thank you for sharing your build details and experience/knowledge. There are so many ins and outs with these cars and their drivetrains, like you mentioned with the Hylomar product and the thread sealant you decided to use, everyone has 'their own way' of doing things, many cases where it's not a matter of right/wrong, it's just personal choice for whatever reaso(s), and I like seeing the ways others decide to do things. Never know when that knowledge may be useful, but it's great to provide oneself with 'options'! Thanks again.

[@bigs650]

What a deal for those heads, that stuff has went up drastically. Keep up the videos 👍🏾😉

[@mikeandNikes]

Awesome video very informative

[@I-Teee]

Really curious what kind of gains you see with this setup vs the old one, which was quite stout already. As always, thanks for the video.

[@J-Finelli231]

I don’t remember what boost I was at for the 11.79/118 pass so it will be hard to duplicate and report improvements. However, I did make a pass at 18psi (boost controller issue) and it ran 12.29/113. I can easily duplicate that boost level and report improvements. That would be interesting.

[@I-Teee]

@@J-Finelli231 Itd be nice if you picked up at least 5mph from that 118.

[@J-Finelli231]

@@I-Teee that was a lot of the goal. At 118 a lot of newer cars can come around you at about 80-90. Most of the new cars are capable of 116-118 close to stock. You need to be in the mid 120’s imo

[@I-Teee]

@@J-Finelli231 Agreed. My T was trapping 114 and exactly, up to 80-90 it moved out good but just needed more to keep up with the insanity that’s todays newer cars.

[@smokeydog6311]

Several online reports of the ARP thread sealer failing. Perhaps due to failure to clean threads properly. I used the black Permatex & ARP studs.

[@J-Finelli231]

I’ve seen them. I was already nervous about using it but after seeing it forget it. The Permetex is like cement. I trust it

[@noahreinhardt2909]

Hey was just curious I have a 87 turbo t with 12k miles on it it’s been sitting in the garage for the last 3 years, before the car was put away it was running perfect mechanically, what would have to be changed or looked at for when I bring it back out again just trying to make a list for my mechanic thanks.

[@J-Finelli231]

If it were mine, I would pull the cam sensor out and prime the motor prior to starting. It’s likely okay but 3 years is a long time. After that, I’d replace gas and fuel filter and that’s the important things.

[@J-Finelli231]

And maybe purchase a scanmaster so you can monitor its vitals.

[@noahreinhardt2909]

@@J-Finelli231thanks I plan on getting it back out again once the weather is nicer appreciate the response.

[@19815389]

I’ve never had a problem with ether ARP sealant or permatex on my race car

[@820performancecomptonbro4]

Are you rebuilding the transmission also

[@J-Finelli231]

It’s been built in the past and I just had it freshened up again.

[@shadhord9502]

I thought had to be a NASA engineer to work on these engines? lol All the threads I see makes me scared to pull the engine out my 89 TTA and rebuild it.