BEST head gasket?

[Fourdy]

I am asking about the elongated water passage located in the lower left corner of the head. As can be seen, the passage in the gasket is a small hole but the block and head is the elongated hole.

I did call BEST and asked why they failed to cut the passage to the original size like many of other gaskets I have used. He said that they had a few people wanting to slow the water flow down so they put the smaller hole in. I told him that everything I have read indicated to me that the purpose of smaller holes at the front of the heads and larger to the rear was to expedite a good flow of coolant to and from the rear of the head.

He said I could use a hole punch to enlarge the hole. I said that in all the reading I had done both on the web and in books I couldn't remember hearing of anyone wishing that passage was smaller.

Thoughts --- and thanks,

Fourdy

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by Fourdy

I am asking about the elongated water passage located in the lower left corner of the head. As can be seen, the passage in the gasket is a small hole but the block and head is the elongated hole.

I did call BEST and asked why they failed to cut the passage to the original size like many of other gaskets I have used. He said that they had a few people wanting to slow the water flow down so they put the smaller hole in. I told him that everything I have read indicated to me that the purpose of smaller holes at the front of the heads and larger to the rear was to expedite a good flow of coolant to and from the rear of the head.

He said I could use a hole punch to enlarge the hole. I said that in all the reading I had done both on the web and in books I couldn't remember hearing of anyone wishing that passage was smaller.

Thoughts --- and thanks,

Fourdy

Just wonder why you think that Best gaskets or any other gasket maker would arbitrarily decide to install small holes. Aren't they manufactured using specs. as set forth by Ford?

[34PKUP]

Seem to recall that some of the early gaskets may have had full sized holes but Ford re-designed them for better cooling properties.
Best gaskets didn't "fail" to do anything, they just made them the way Ford designed them.

[19Fordy]

34PKUP is correct. Ford changed the design of their later head gaskets to force more water from the front of the heads to the rear for better cooling. I know I read that in the 1949-51 Mercury Overhaul Manuals but I can't quote it right now for this post.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

34PKUP is correct. Ford changed the design of their later head gaskets to force more water from the front of the heads to the rear for better cooling. I know I read that in the 1949-51 Mercury Overhaul Manuals but I can't quote it right now for this post.

Believe the hole he is referring to is at the rear of the head/block, hence the question.

" I did call BEST and asked why they failed to cut the passage to the original size like many of other gaskets I have used. He said that they had a few people wanting to slow the water flow down so they put the smaller hole in. I told him that everything I have read indicated to me that the purpose of smaller holes at the front of the heads and larger to the rear was to expedite a good flow of coolant to and from the rear of the head."

[Fourdy]

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Picture for clarification. I told him that I had another gasket (not Best) that looked the same as his but had the larger cut out. He did not say that it was done because of a Ford design but because some guys had wanted to slow down the flow. Very positive conversation with him telling me to use a drill or hole punch to enlarge the opening. We both had a big laugh as we each in our own mind could see the drill bit twisting the crap out of it and throwing $$'s in the trash.

Anyone have a comment about opening it up for more flow?

Thanks again,

Fourdy

[19Fordy]

I agree that trying to open the gasket up for more flow will only accomplish one thing - a destroyed gasket. Is there such a thing as a hand held water jet cutting machine or a laser that could produce a clean cut? How about the old tried and true X-ACTO knife? The high price of gaskets makes experimentation expensive.

[barnfind08]

I would just buy a Ford mfg gasket which I have in stock.

[J Witt]

A Dremel tool at high speed with a carbide cutter.

Another way to do it is to sandwich the gasket between two metal pieces clamped together, or even two pieces of wood. I've used this method for drilling/machining parts from shim stock.

John

[billfish]

I've used the best gasket with the small hole on my 51 8ba and have not had a problem.

So my question is, is this supposed to be an improvement to balance water flow.

[Ol' Ron]

i just uz then the way they come out of the box. Seem to work fine. My 280 runs 180 here in the hot Vermont summer with 180 stats. So I don't think it's am issue.