Can a stock cylinder head that uses a regular gasket be modified to use o-rings?

 

Yes, it can be cut for o-rings most of the time. What application?

I will require additional machining though. If a 2 stroke: You will have to remachine the squish recess to keep the squish clearance right, and remachine the pocket to get the pocket volume right to keep the compression ratio within target. Sometimes though...the head set-up is so woefully loose that additional machining is not required.

 

Its for my liquid cooled blaster project. Its a 1984 yamaha DT200R, similar to a wr200.

What are the benefits to using o-rings other than not having to replace gaskets all the time? What places do this?

 

The benefits are :

Decreased leaks, o-rings will seal a less than optimal gap. The entire gasket mating surface doesnt have to be super flat anymore, a o-ring will seal where a gasket will leak.

Increased heat transfer to the cylinder head. There is no loss of conduction across a head gasket. The cylinder and cylinder head are in direct contact with one another and thats a good thing.

Pretty much any performance shop with a lathe or mill will be able to cut o-rings in for you. Sometimes the o-rings are cut into the head, most times they are cut into the cylinder itself.

Use a little silicone spark plug boot grease to lubricate the o-rings prior to installation. And where the o-rings are in the cylinder head, the goo will help keep the o-rings in thier grooves when you turn the head over to install it.