Well, with all the people building their engines or all the recent headgasket failures, I've been receiving lots of requests for where and how to buy the Cometic Headgasket and Golden Eagle Headstuds I installed. So here it goes for everyone. Mods please make this a sticky!

Cometic Headgasket
(800) 752-9850 Call Toll Free
(440) 354-0777 Order / Tech Line
(440) 354-0350 Fax
Link: http://www.cometic.com/da_viewimage.aspx?da=159
Comments: The headgasket for the 2.0L is the same as the 2.2. We need the .040 thickness with the 87mm bore. Yes, our pistons are 86mm, but if think about it for a second, the gasket would have to be a hair bigger! I called and confirmed it too, and my car runs great with it.
**NOTE** They make the gaskets to order, so you will have to call the number(s) above to place your order, however, I had the gasket in hand in 4-5 days! Great customer service, great product, and if it can withstand my buddies 1300-1400whp drag cars abuse it swill definately withstand our 2.0 liters of fury torture!

Golden Eagle Headstuds
Lightning Motorsports
1.800.478.0952
Link: http://shopping.lightningmotorsports...2&cat=0&page=1 This was the best price I found, and their customer service was top notch as they had the studs direct shipped to me from Golden Eagle since they were out of stock. I had the studs in hand in less than 4 days from the west coast!
Comments: I used the Golden Eagle headstuds because they have a glass bead finish which gives a more accurate torque spec when torqued down compared to the ARP headstuds. GM has used these in their project cobalts for high power output builds. They are the exact same ones for the 2.2 ecotec and work great on our 2.0. The kit comes with great installation instructions & torque specs, engine assembly lube, and all at an excellent price. They can be reused if you plan to tear the engine apart in the future as well.
**NOTE** The stock headbolts are torque-to-yield bolts and CANNOT be reused after being torqued to spec!

Here is the link to the GM build book section that I used as my instructions to do the headgasket install:
http://www.gm.com/company/gmtunersou..._250-600hp.pdf

Here is a link to all the torque specs you'll need, and make sure you use a good cailbrated torque wrench or you will break some bolts, and they are hard as hell to come by/order:
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/show...t=torque+specs

**NOTE** Make sure you have the head resurfaced properly by a good machine shop. This is very important or the head won't seal and torque down correctly causing another failure. Ensure all surfaces are clean of gunk and build-up from the prior gasket. Brake cleaner and gasket remover are great for ensure the block is nice and clean.

**NOTE** If you did not blow your headgasket, then there is no need to have the head resurfaced. Just clean the head free of all contaminants, and reinstall with the new gasket. You could still have a machine shop double check to see if it's in spec if you are **** retentive like myself.

**NOTE** Cometic gaskets are made of MLS (mulit-layered steel) with a Viton (rubberlike) coating. The are installed dry and do not rquire any gasket adhesive!

 

nice! i would never build a motor without head studs and main studs

 

stuck, thanx for the post!

 

nice job man... thanks

 

No problem guys. I'm here to help as it seems I'm always the one that finds out first what will break for some unlucky reason!

 

im right behind you on that

 

Great post! Thank you! I would imagine quite a few of us will end up needing this thread pretty soon.

 

Totally agree on that. I am gonna be prepaired just ordered studs and all.

 

Cool, has anyone used the headgasket the JBP has on their website?

 

if both the 2.2 and LSJ have a 86mm piston bore, why is an 87 used on the LSJ?

 

Dang. So I cant install the Head gasket without machining the head..!

 

Thanks for the useful post man

 

if you had a head gasket blow you definately want to get the head machined!! it shouldn't be too expensive to have the head decked. basically all you want to do shave enough off the bottom of the head so it is flat and you get a good seal.

As far as the bore goes...1mm is minimal andif you think about it it actually works out to be 1/2mm all the way around. it definatly won't hurt anything and if you were to pull your head off you probably will actually find the stock one is about the same.

 

if you didnt blow the head gasket you dont have to get the head machined it should still be true

 

good post!!!!


and i think he^^ is rite about that....if you dont blow it...why resurface it?

 

Got it. thanks guys!

 

If you blow the head gasket, you better get it checked! Our heads being aluminum makes them prone to warping. Obviously the headgasket blowing means to much pressure/forces/warping allowed the gasket to loose it's seal in the first place. My head was definately out of spec, and had to be machined. You will blow another headgasket if this is not done. Were only talking being out of spec by a few thousandths too. The machining cost me $45, and the disassembly/reassemble of the cylinder head cost $45. I don't have a spring compressor/assembly tool, so $90 isn't too shabby to have all that done. Plus a minimal raise in the compression probably didn't hurt either.

If you don't blow the head gasket, ensure the surface area is clean of all contaminants, and reinstall! Easy day.

The gasket has to be 87mm in diameter. Think about the travel of the piston, and how close it comes to the cylinder head. It would require just that 1/2mm around the edge for clearence to ensure nothing blocks full travel. If the gasket was just a hair inside the bore, or wasn't completely perfect, the possiblity of a sliver of anything in the combustion chamber could cause catastrophic failure. Trust me, the gasket is perfect as I voiced the same concern over the phone. Cometic knows what they are doing, and their reputation shows for it.

If there are any more questions please feel free to ask. :

 

^^^^basically what i was trying to say

 

I hear you bro. I was just further claifying it to give everyone a visual as I did have some PM's on it.

 

do you know if this is a graphite head gasket or what is it made out of?

 

The gasket is made out of MLS (mulit-layered steel) with a Viton (rubber-like) coating.

 

thanks i know when the aluminim heads and blocks came out they were (and probably still are) having problems with the head gaskets failing and graphite head gaskets were the best option. i dunno if they are still around or if they have been replaced by better technology.

 

2k5ss what did you have done to the car when you needed to replace gasket and studs?

 

pretty sure he had mods in his sig, and blew his headgasket...

 

I had all the mods in my sig except for the 2.8" pulley and downpipe. The cat clogged soon after the headgasket issue because of all the coolant that was burned off, and the pulley arrived in the mail the day after the headgasket blew.