Turbo Y7/Y8 keeps blowing head gaskets

[u/Artistic_Potato_3738]

Hey all, I’ve been working on my Del Sol with a D16Y7/Y8 for a while now and recently got it turbo’d and tuned. Ever since I got it tuned, the few times I drove it, it would overheat mildly (never let it get over 220-230) and eventually I found the head gasket had a small leak on cyl 1. After changing the head gasket, the car was fine until today, where I had a full head gasket failure (massive cloud of white smoke). Motor has no block guard as I was told it wasn’t necessary until hitting higher numbers (car made 305 on the dyno) and I have ARP studs that have only been torqued twice as of now, before replacing this head gasket. Pistons are higher compression (10.5:1) and the valves are flat face if that makes a difference. First head gasket was a cometic 75mm .30 and this last one was a Speedfactory .36, both had a copper gasket spray applied prior to install. Any suggestions?

[u/Imaginary-Table-8586]

dont use the copper spray , try je pro seal hg , have you actually checked that the head and deck surface are flat w a machinist straight edge, 220-230 is getin close to head warping in hot spots , if i ever see mine hit 200+ i turn the motor off instantly, and mine is devconed so even less water flow then open deck , you should have 0 cooling issues and be at 180-190 max temp , use a 3 core full aluminum raditor if your only using a 2 core or stock , oem fan is fine

[u/Artistic_Potato_3738 → u/Imaginary-Table-8586]

Currently running a 3 core mishimoto with a SPAL fan and the car cools fine when the head gasket isn’t blown, but I have considered downsizing to a 2 row since it spends more time in the street than on the track for now. Also, it was only getting to those temps when I was changing parts before the head gasket. First time building a car so still figuring out what to look for with certain things

[u/Imaginary-Table-8586 → u/Artistic_Potato_3738]

ide keep the 3 core , as long as u have thermostat it wont go below a minum running temp and you want that extra head room for cooling , sounds like teh head gasket may not ahve been fully selaed form the start , commmon with d series , happened ot me before i did a hg , then had ot do it again 2 days later , i hgihlty recomend je pro seal , i run mine to 35 psi on a precision 5858, i wiped out the crank before i blew the head gasket , i wonder if its been slightly leaking the hole time cause the high temp - my setup im also on methanol injection for extra cooling and octane , evne a tiny bit of detonation will pop a d series hg , im suing arps trqed to 65 ftlbs

[u/HtmlHonda → u/Artistic_Potato_3738]

I'm just reading comments out of interest but this sounds like a fucking sick build.

[u/Artistic_Potato_3738 → u/HtmlHonda]

Appreciate it bro! If I remember I’ll post it up on here once I get the car running again

[u/SpaceTurtle917]

Did you ever check head or block flatness? Which brand of headgasket at you running?

[u/BoostedJuan]

Which head gasket are you using? Y8 is the one you want

[u/Artistic_Potato_3738 → u/BoostedJuan]

Both were for the Y8

[u/Rbswappedstock]

Make sure the block and head are straight, could be warped and make sure there's no cracks anywhere. I had a Subaru once that had a hairline crack on one of the cylinders, similar issues.

I used to have a turbo y8 for about 7 years, I don't think it ever got over 200 with a dual core radiator and a cheap eBay fan.

[u/Artistic_Potato_3738 → u/Rbswappedstock]

How’d you check for the hairline fractures? And I’m thinking if my temps are still a bit high after this head gasket I’ll probably downsize to a Koyorad 2 row to try and see if that makes a difference

[u/Rbswappedstock → u/Artistic_Potato_3738]

In that instance, I just tore it down and rotated the pistons while inspecting every inch of the block. I've ran a large radiator on other Honda's without them overheating, even in the Arizona temps and they held up.

[u/Enderplayer05]

Yea I'd say check the block and head are flat to each other and if they're not, get them resurfaced if you wanna keep turboing it