Head gasket ? E7 head 86 block

[mmigora]

1. Has anyone used a thicker head gasket to get the proper piston to valve clearence when using E7 heads on an 86 block?
2. Has anyone used the piston flycutting tool that goes thru the valve guides to cut the pistons while still in the block?

[Ltngdrvr]

1. Has anyone used a thicker head gasket to get the proper piston to valve clearence when using E7 heads on an 86 block?
2. Has anyone used the piston flycutting tool that goes thru the valve guides to cut the pistons while still in the block?

How much clearance are you lacking?

You don't want to use thicker head gaskets, you lose a bunch of compression that way plus any that are thick enough to make much difference in valve to piston clearance are going to be pretty pricey.

The valve notching tool you describe has been around for a long time and works well, you just have to make sure you get all the shavings out after cutting. Iskendarian makes the tool and has a loaner program set up for it. You need an old junk bare head to use with it.

[mmigora]

I have yet to bolt the E7 head onto the the block, I was just thinking worst case scenerio, maybe I'll get lucky and won't need to flycut the pistons. If I have to, can I use the E6 head for the old junk head?

[wacostang]

1. As long as you dont have a cam E7 can be run with the flat tops. Still check the clearence with clay though!
2. There are several members who have used it with sucess on this board, as stated the shaving are very important.

[ZachW04Stang]

When I had my 86, I put e7's on with 88 speed density cam (not sure if its different then 86 cam) and didn't have any piston to valve clearance issues.

[mmigora]

For you guys that have done the E7 swap, what kind of performance difference did you notice? Was it worth the work?