TDRattler

how much boost is safe before you need to oring block or at least use studs for head. have a 98 12 valve can hit 45 pounds boost pretty easy. now have oil in coolant over flow. have not taken apart to fine whats wrong. hoping its a head gasket but wondering if i have to much boost.

Big Smoky

I bet it's a head gasket. I ran 45 psi on my 12v for a year and a half with no problems and I haven't had a problem with my 02 yet. The hx-50 might help it go though! Every truck is different and it also depends on how well you let you truck warm up before you bury the throttle.

Bosshawg600

Sounds like a gasket to me. I just blew mine and it did the same thing. I bet I have a close set up to you. IMHO just go with FIRE RINGS ( most shops wont even do o-rings any more) and studs. I was just planning on running a marine gasket when Scheids told me its only $200 more to shot for rings,so I said might as well. Make sure you have a realy good shop do it. If one small thing is off it will be a big mess. Saving a few bucks isnt worth it. Plus Fire rings hoild well over 80 lbs of boost so you'll have room to upgrade everthing and not have to worry about it.

casper_cobra

it also depends on your pump timing...25* of timing with 30 psi will be deadly to a headgasket

LucasLobo

Diesel Injection serv in Kentucky told me the factory gasket and bolts are good for 52lbs of boost. they do lots of performance upgrades bothin sales and in installs and seem to be very knowledgable.