How reliable is the gasket? I am thinking about building up a turbo setup for track use, but not sure if the gasket is as reliable as the piston?

 

If you're going to rebuild the engine at the same time I'd personally lower CR w/ the piston.

 

i've put 5000+ miles on mine with no problems yet. **knock on wood**

 

Pistons come with a whole lot of issues. Because of the FRM cylinders you can't run most pistons.

So you are forced to sleeve the block, which is a major engineering job.

What this means is that the difference between a decompressed block using pistons and one using the head gasket is $2000-3000.

For me, the additional cost, and also the urgency meant I went with the headgasket.

 

The short block I got has about 80k miles on it, with one bad rod bearing, so I am gonna rebuild the motor anyway. Any recommend 9:1(or somewhere close) pistons?

Also, I did some research on cams. I have an Evo too, and cams really helps on that car. But I'v also read people highly not recommend aftermarket cams on s2k, but mostly NA setup. So wondering is cams upgrade is nessesary?

 

I dont think you are going to need cams unless you plan on making well over 500whp. There is numerous people on this forum making in the 500 range with stock engines aside from a headgasket including myself. You cant go wrong with a sleeved block and pistons and rods. Id suggest CP pistons, pauter rods as they are what i have used on previous cars and had great success with them. But the 3mm headgasket is a great product

But yeah i dont think you would need cams. The S2000 head flows excellent.

 

My goal is 350whp for now, I don't think I could handle more than that. So looks like there is not much custom work I have to do.

Thanks guys

 

If all you want is 350 to the wheels you should have no problems with a 3mm head gasket.