ProCharged Can-Am - Performance Test - Good News and Bad

[CanAm Dave]

Yesterday I hooked up my Race Technology AP22 performance meter to the car and gave it a good thrashing!

The Good news is as follows:

0 to 60mph = 3.1secs
0 to 100mph = 5.95secs

After the first attempt I had to reboot my brain as it all happened a bit too quick. The mapping is now sorted and although a had plenty of wheelspin the new LSD kept me straight and true. I started in 2nd and changed up into 3rd at 70mph. You have to love these cars. I pulled 13psi boost and the dump valve near gave me a heart attack when it let all that pressure go!

The Bad news is I've blown a head gasket and it has all got to come apart again! Oh well I was having too much fun anyway, but it aint going to knock this grin off my face.

Regards Dave

[Boosted LS1]

Very good Dave, must have been great fun. Have a close look at the gasket to find why it let go though. Maybe check the studs for waisting as well.

[kylemrushall]

Gutted for you mate

Have you had any replies from Steve Morris? I will have a chat with Tim Adams and see if he has any ideas!!

[CanAm Dave]

Boosted LS1 said:

Very good Dave, must have been great fun. Have a close look at the gasket to find why it let go though. Maybe check the studs for waisting as well.

I have my fine tooth comb at the ready! But I think I know the answer already! I have new gaskets waiting in the wings!
I'll give the MLS gaskets a try! How do you rate these Mike?

Regards Dave

[CanAm Dave]

kylemrushall said:

Gutted for you mate

Have you had any replies from Steve Morris? I will have a chat with Tim Adams and see if he has any ideas!!

No reply yet mate! I'll let you know!

Regards Dave

[eliot]

Blimey dave, thats bad news. I must be on borrowed time with my std engine @10psi.

[chuntington101]

great numbers dave!!

sorry about the headgasket. what head are you running on there? just thinking maybe a set with a thicker deck might help. or maybe get yours o-ringed??

Cheers

Chris.

[Thevet]

That's a bummer after all the hard work and that happens, but have been there last year with both gaskets going on my engine at Vmax, but now have the MLS gaskets and so far so good, they do look a lot beefier and more substatial than the regular ones. Good luck with the slight rebuild. Still going to Vmax this summer?

[CanAm Dave]

Thevet said:

That's a bummer after all the hard work and that happens, but have been there last year with both gaskets going on my engine at Vmax, but now have the MLS gaskets and so far so good, they do look a lot beefier and more substatial than the regular ones. Good luck with the slight rebuild. Still going to Vmax this summer?

Hi Tim

Maybe not the one in June but I hope to make it to the one after that!

Regards Dave

[CanAm Dave]

chuntington101 said:

great numbers dave!!

sorry about the headgasket. what head are you running on there? just thinking maybe a set with a thicker deck might help. or maybe get yours o-ringed??

Cheers

Chris.

Hi Chris

I'm running Pro Action 23degree Aluminium Lightening heads. The problem with these is the bore of the gasket needed to seal them. A 4.2 inch is marginal at best. The new MLS ones I have are 4.2 but have eyebrow relief areas cut out. So fingers crossed. If these fail it will have to be custom copper ones.

Regards Dave

[Boosted LS1]

CanAm Dave said:

Boosted LS1 said:

Very good Dave, must have been great fun. Have a close look at the gasket to find why it let go though. Maybe check the studs for waisting as well.

I have my fine tooth comb at the ready! But I think I know the answer already! I have new gaskets waiting in the wings!
I'll give the MLS gaskets a try! How do you rate these Mike?

Regards Dave

I don't rate them Dave but it depends on how smooth the head and block faces are. I once fitted factory mls onto an ls1 and water leaked as the heads weren't smooth enough. Later lsx engines have a better finish. I like composits which are decent so long as there isn't detonation or very high pressures. Your engine being somewhat older, cough ahem may have been decked with a file. I'd check for lifting heads, spark timing and detonation.

Let us know what the answer is.

[chuntington101]

CanAm Dave said:

chuntington101 said:

great numbers dave!!

sorry about the headgasket. what head are you running on there? just thinking maybe a set with a thicker deck might help. or maybe get yours o-ringed??

Cheers

Chris.

Hi Chris

I'm running Pro Action 23degree Aluminium Lightening heads. The problem with these is the bore of the gasket needed to seal them. A 4.2 inch is marginal at best. The new MLS ones I have are 4.2 but have eyebrow relief areas cut out. So fingers crossed. If these fail it will have to be custom copper ones.

Regards Dave

what stroke/CID are you running with the 4.2inch bore???

be nice to know whats causeing the gasket faliure. i guess there is no point in strapping the heads down tighter if thats not the problem. lol

CHris.

[CanAm Dave]

chuntington101 said:

CanAm Dave said:

chuntington101 said:

great numbers dave!!

sorry about the headgasket. what head are you running on there? just thinking maybe a set with a thicker deck might help. or maybe get yours o-ringed??

Cheers

Chris.

Hi Chris

I'm running Pro Action 23degree Aluminium Lightening heads. The problem with these is the bore of the gasket needed to seal them. A 4.2 inch is marginal at best. The new MLS ones I have are 4.2 but have eyebrow relief areas cut out. So fingers crossed. If these fail it will have to be custom copper ones.

Regards Dave

what stroke/CID are you running with the 4.2inch bore???

be nice to know whats causeing the gasket faliure. i guess there is no point in strapping the heads down tighter if thats not the problem. lol

CHris.

Hi Chris

The gaskets are a 4.2inch bore the block is 4.030inch. It's the chamber in the head that is proving difficult to seal not the cylinder bore! After much investigating I've decided to change the heads! This is going to involve a lot more work and expense but I need to get it right! I will take the oppotunity to upgrade a few more parts along the way.

Regards Dave

[Steve_D]

CanAm Dave said:

....I'm running Pro Action 23degree Aluminium Lightening heads. The problem with these is the bore of the gasket needed to seal them. A 4.2 inch is marginal at best. The new MLS ones I have are 4.2 but have eyebrow relief areas cut out. So fingers crossed. If these fail it will have to be custom copper ones........

.......The gaskets are a 4.2inch bore the block is 4.030inch. It's the chamber in the head that is proving difficult to seal not the cylinder bore! After much investigating I've decided to change the heads! This is going to involve a lot more work and expense but I need to get it right! I will take the oppotunity to upgrade a few more parts along the way.

Regards Dave

Rather extreme move to change the heads when there is a whole range of gaskets out there.

Which chamber size are your heads?

If 72cc then I found a link that implies the gasket should be a Fel-pro 1003 but that is 4.166" bore so still may not do the job.
However, on the same site they are offering a gasket for a 4.060" bore and that head so would look to be a way forward.

link

Steve

[CanAm Dave]

Steve_D said:

CanAm Dave said:

....I'm running Pro Action 23degree Aluminium Lightening heads. The problem with these is the bore of the gasket needed to seal them. A 4.2 inch is marginal at best. The new MLS ones I have are 4.2 but have eyebrow relief areas cut out. So fingers crossed. If these fail it will have to be custom copper ones........

.......The gaskets are a 4.2inch bore the block is 4.030inch. It's the chamber in the head that is proving difficult to seal not the cylinder bore! After much investigating I've decided to change the heads! This is going to involve a lot more work and expense but I need to get it right! I will take the opportunity to upgrade a few more parts along the way.

Regards Dave

Rather extreme move to change the heads when there is a whole range of gaskets out there.

Which chamber size are your heads?

If 72cc then I found a link that implies the gasket should be a Fel-pro 1003 but that is 4.166" bore so still may not do the job.
However, on the same site they are offering a gasket for a 4.060" bore and that head so would look to be a way forward.

link

Steve

Hi Steve

My heads have 64cc chambers and 228cc inlet runners and were made before RHS (Racing Head Service) took over from Pro Topline. I spoke to RHS when the gaskets blew last time and fitted my current ones on there recommendation. Even the 4.200 with eyebrow relief looks like it would not seal and I don't want to take the chance. I could have some custom ones made for about £180 each but to be honest things are getting too close to the water jacket. I don't think there is enough land area to get a good enough seal, hence my reason for changing the heads.

Regards Dave

[Steve_D]

So what heads are you looking to use?

Steve

[CanAm Dave]

Steve_D said:

So what heads are you looking to use?

Steve

Hi Steve

Possibly the latest Dart Pro1 CNC with 227cc inlet runners and 64cc chambers. I am still looking at the moment! I'm waiting on information from a few experts. If you've read any good reviews on heads let me know!

Regards Dave

[Steve_D]

When I built my engine the AFR heads were being claimed as the best flowing heads out there but that was four years ago so may not be valid any more. I fitted AFR and they are very nice heads.

Steve

[kylemrushall]

I would be waiting to see what the pros say Dave....

Steve Morris will have some good info im sure.

[pilot pete]

Woooh
That is a quick time.