Ok, so i installed my heads with HR gaskets and 2 of my head studs pulled out. The most i got for torque was 80ftlbs on these heads when they needed to be to 95ft lbs.

My question is, since i never ran these heads would it be safe to reuse these gaskets or are they already wasted since they have had pressure on them? I've heard both sides of the fence.

I'm trying not to waste money because i'm already forking out **** for a new block but at the same time i don't want to run into issues by cutting corners.

 

are the heads o-ring'd? Rule of thumb is once compressed run or not do not reuse, I have seen people do it with mixed results

 

I reused a cometic 3 layer on my sr 5 times. And reused a set of cometics on my wrx engine twice.

But I don't know how the oem gasket compares. I would pull them out and look them over real good and make sure they are clean

 

they don't have any separate o-rings that go on the heads. They are a multilayer steel gasket so i'm not sure if there is a crush ring in there. I think the aftermarket companies use a crush ring.

 

They were never fully torqued , probably still good. Key word is probably

 

ya, that's what i'm worried about. since this new block doesn't have the cooling mod i probably should just go with some standard expensive aftermarket ones and take it up the *** like a blind consumer.

 

You're cracking me up Jeff. It reminds me of how I felt during rebuilds. After you do things right, then do them for the second or third time even the small expenses start to make you angry.

 

I wouldnt reuse because even though they werent fully compressed they just about were there.