"o" ringed heads, why not the block

[Sam Colalillo]

I have to ask this question, and I hope I don’t get laughed of this board for asking it.

What are the advantages to machining the cylinder heads to accept lock rings instead of the block? Are the clearances to tight in between the cylinders to machine the engine block for lock wire? I am thinking it would be easier to set the heads down onto the block if the lock wire was already installed on the block (you know that thing about gravity). Also wouldn’t it be easier to machine the block as apposed to the special Jigs, and tools that are required for machining the heads?

Please don’t respond to this like we were all sitting in physics class and I asked the professor why E=MC^2.

[quicker6]

I dont know the exact benefits of putting receiver groves in the head over o-ringing the block but, Im guessing that its easier because it doesnt require you to remove the block.
Ive got an o-ringed block that I run with SCE copper head gaskets that holds quite well as its seen 30 lbs. of boost already. It only cost $70 to get o-ringed locally and the gasket set sells for $90 through postons. Id say that its a good method to use if you already have the block out of your car.
HTH,
Derek

[Sam Colalillo]

Thanks for the advice, I feel more confident about it now. A friend of mine is a machinist and has all the equipment at his home shop to put receiver grooves into my block. I really trust this guy, but I can’t understand why so many people receiver groove the heads instead of the block.

I just want to make sure I am not missing something, other than the convenience of not having to disassemble the engine down to the block. I can be with out the car for a while right now, as I have no intention of finding out how good it handles in the snow.

[750H.P.V6]

Sam,

I there is more than one way to machine the receiver grooves for copper gaskets. I have seen grooves for the wire in either the head or block. The machine shop I use which does a lot of BBC motors with high compression, NOS, superchargers etc. likes to put a groove for the wire in the head and a reciever groove in the block for the gasket to deform into as it is torqued in place. This is what I'm using for the stock block motor I've got in the works in hopes of mitigating any headgasket problems.

Neal