When building engines beyond 2,000 horsepower, cylinder pressures can get intense, making the head gasket’s job of sealing the engine a tough one. To create better engine seal in these high-horsepower applications, engine builders such as Steve Morris of Steve Morris Engines, use hoops.

In this Steve Tech, Steve walks you through how today’s hoops work, why they’re better than old-school o-rings, what they actually do, how he installs them, and ultimately, why it matters and makes a difference when it comes to performance.