MkIV steel head gasket - good or bad mod on a mkIII vr golf?

[matth76 1]

I have heard that a thinner steel headgasket can be fitted from the mk 4 golf gti. This obviously raises compression as the gasket is thinner. Is this a bad or good thing? Does it give my car more lower down torque or is that a load of cr**? If it does improve low down torque, is it really noticable, how much are we talking? With the gasket being steel does it make it more reliable? Or is it a bad thing with a car that has 268 cams?

My car is only lightly modified with exhaust and air filter and 268 cams, remap, no plans to go the forced induction route, keeping everything n/a.

Thanks for any info

[dstyrrell 0]

Hi Mate,

I did some investigating on this very subject and on VWvortex alot of the guys on there have gone for the MK4 head gasket, the main advantage is that its metal and is more durable however as far as power gains go they rekon that you'll gain 4-5 BHP, in my opinion this amount of power gain isn't really worth the hassle, from what i've read i wouldn't waste your time on cams either just get yourself some forced induction which is the best way to gain good amounts of power and keep a nice drive.

Dave

Dave

[IbiVR 0]

This has been covered alot on here. If your changing head gasket stick a metal one in, but not worth doing just for the sake of it. You will gain a little as your raising the compression half a point, but its not really noticable.

You'll have no problems with the 268's. 288's its a bit close.

Tom.

[gav_113 0]

i bought a headgasket at inters this yr for £5. it is a metal one, is this the right one for this? or is it a std head gasket? part number is -071 103 383 can any confirm which gasket i have??

[IbiVR 0]

There are a couple of types, UK spec mk4 generation vr metal gasket I think is 021 103 383 N.

Normal Headgasket for a mk3 is the paper one. The metal 3 layer ones are thinner so give the increase in compression.

£5 is a bargain. Dealer price is around £50.

Tom.