Headgasket when 'charging - to change or not to change

[dan_emaps]

Guys,

I can't make my mind up on this one, so seeing what you guys think lol, I'm beginning work on my 320 to prepare it for boosted fun and just can't work out the best way to do this.. i'm removing the head anyway as i have one bolt on the exhaust manifold i can't get off and access is poor, so going to get the head off and try that way, also i need to change the injectors and inlet manifold so i might aswell.

Now here's some silly questions.. as i'll have taken the head off, can i reuse the head gasket or will i have to get a new one anyway? also i was going to get a decomp plate or cometec H/G but these are not cheap i've also heard that having the gasket as a weak point if you like isnt such a bad thing, as it'll mean this will go instead of a piston etc if i over do it...

I'm definately gonna go for 12.9 headbolts either way. So what do you think? should i save up and uprate the h/g now, or stick with the stock one and see how it goes?

ps. I'm hoping to run about 10psi...

[WillG]

new stock gasket and those headbolts is ok for 10 psi, you dont need to lower compression until 15 psi+

[WillG]

Id rather damage a piston then crack my head also, you blow gasket out into your water jacket and you stand a big chance of cracking it

[dan_emaps]

Excellent cheers Will

[fuzzy]

if your taking it apart then youd be as well changing the head gasket anyway as ive heard people complaining of them going within hours of turbo charged running.a cometic head gasket is a bit more expensive but are re-usable up to 10 times im told,which will come in handy once you start running it .my cometic gasket was 3 times the price of a group a gasket but has repayed me already