2.0 Head Gasket delete? Options

[torakki]

I've read where it's a good idea to remove the head gaskets and re-assemble without them. Something about, they crush and cause an issue. Is there anything else you need to do or change, in their place? Like a different head design?
Thanks

[Al Meredith]

I stayed up last night reading a bunch of articles about type 4 rebuilds by Jake Raby and FAT and KB pistons and Mark Stephens,Len Hoffemen in Dune Buggies and HOT VW and VW TRENDS . Everything I read does not use head gaskets in their rebuilds. All are very clear about a .040 clearance . I have built several 2056 with carbs and have not used head gaskets . I have a 2056 in my 912E and a 1911 in my 914 all at 9 to 1 CR and never had a problem in 15 years of use . We need Jake to comment on this subject.

[Jake Raby]

I stayed up last night reading a bunch of articles about type 4 rebuilds by Jake Raby and FAT and KB pistons and Mark Stephens,Len Hoffemen in Dune Buggies and HOT VW and VW TRENDS . Everything I read does not use head gaskets in their rebuilds. All are very clear about a .040 clearance . I have built several 2056 with carbs and have not used head gaskets . I have a 2056 in my 912E and a 1911 in my 914 all at 9 to 1 CR and never had a problem in 15 years of use . We need Jake to comment on this subject.

The only time to use the factory T4 head gaskets- is NEVER.

[ClayPerrine]

I stayed up last night reading a bunch of articles about type 4 rebuilds by Jake Raby and FAT and KB pistons and Mark Stephens,Len Hoffemen in Dune Buggies and HOT VW and VW TRENDS . Everything I read does not use head gaskets in their rebuilds. All are very clear about a .040 clearance . I have built several 2056 with carbs and have not used head gaskets . I have a 2056 in my 912E and a 1911 in my 914 all at 9 to 1 CR and never had a problem in 15 years of use . We need Jake to comment on this subject.

The only time to use the factory T4 head gaskets- is NEVER.

I disagree. If you look at that tech bulletin, it clearly says "These changes effect Engine codes: GD, GE,CV."

None of those engines were used in the 914 at all.

Jake, you can do the required machine work to make it work without the gaskets. Ordinary guys working in their garage cannot do the precision work you do. They cannot machine heads with enough accuracy to be able to eliminate the gaskets. I would bet 98% of the professional machine shops out there cannot do the quality of work you do. The head gaskets are there to compensate for the less than dead nuts on machine work that comes from most shops.