Head Gasket Thickness

[BB]

I'm just doing a head swap on an EJ22T to USDM '96 DOHC HLA heads. I want to maintain an 8:0 CR, and have in my hands a "Phase II" Head gasket that is supposed to measure 0.058" in thickness [Number taken from EJ Calcs website]. However the multi-layer (4 layers) gasket measure about 0.067".

Q1: Is it safe to say the EJ cacls gasket thickeness is the crushed thickness? It would make a heck of a8 lot sense if it was. If so my gasket should crush to 0.058"?

Q2: The USDM '97 DOHC heads have a "clover leaf" style combustion chamber. The USDM '96 DOHC heads do not. The '97 heads have a head volume of 46cc [EJ calcs]. The '96 heads must have a larger volume head due to their more traditional pentroof style layout. Before I bust out a burette, anybody know the '96 head volume?

Q3: Can I remove the one of the four inner layers of the headgasket to lose some of the gained head volume of the '96 head? And yes, my valves will be getting oh so close to the piston, I will check clearance on trial assembly. (I should prolly do the math on how much volume I hope to loose on one layer alone, and yes I can check this...

Pictures are on my livespace:

http://brucebeveridge.spaces.live.com/

Please dont get too confused with all the heads in the pictures, yes I have 3 sets, EJ22T SOHC, '96 EJ25DOHC, '97EJ25DOHC warped nearly beyond repair or machining .

I think in the long run the '96 head is the better head, seems like there's less shrouding around the valves, no mainenance with HLA's!, however high RPM stability will be less than the mechanical '97 head. But since I dont plan on revving past 6500rpm, I'm not worried.

Thanks to all,

Bruce

[BB]

So the '96 DOHC head volume is approx 49cc. No wonder no one uses it on head swaps. Its been milled at least once. Still not enough to be stock. Oh well - wish I had some pistons with a tad more dome.

Looks like the 97 heads are gonna get a vavle job and get bolted on my other ej22t block.

BB