As some of you may know, I have been using forged pistons and a TTI racing headgasket on stock rods. Well my howell kit finally got here and I tore then engine apart on last satuday. Anyway, the machine shop will be done with the block on friday, so on the following tuesday (since I will be camping for the holiday) I will start to assemble this sucker again. My main question is should I use my TTI racing head gasket again? I would of course put new MLS around it (like it came with). Anyway it is a option that I have. The spacer itself is in perfect shape.

FYI
I bought the 8.8:1 longrod kit from howell.

Is the TTI gasket the thing which reduces compression by lifting the cylinder head up a tad? If you bought a set of 8.8:1 pistons and the block nor the head have been decked a substantial amount, I'd say drop the TTI gasket so you don't loose any more compression.

I'm thinking the same thing.
Looks like there will be a good TTI gasket up for grabs.

remember to use the support rings.

support rings? you mean for the oil rings (they came with the pistons not with my total seal ring kit)....I gave the pistons/rods to my machinist(sp) and he is putting the rings in and doing all the filing for each cyl. He is going to mark which piston is fitted to which cyl.

hmm how much you wanna sell the spacer for? Hehe I mimght wanna lower compression the next time the head is out.

I got the TTI exhuast manifold gasket and its good stuff haha I've reused it like 5 times already, but then again a head gasket and manifold gasket are kinda two different things.

just curious but how well does the timing belt line up when you use the spacer?

<shudder>

It's not a very nice thing to do - using a thicker gasket to lower compression. Your motor has (barely) squish pads that are supposed to be close to the piston deck to push the combusion chamber gas to the spark plug. Why use something to increase clearance, decrease squich, and reduce knock resistance?

I did not notice any differance in the timing belt. The teeth all lined up just the same as before. I don't even remember what I paid for it, but I think I'll sell it for 60$ shipped. You will have to get a MLS gasket. The TTI spacer goes in the center of the MLS.