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09-22-2019, 10:41 AM | #1 |
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Head gasket installation
More questions from me. How are you guys installing “sealing” your head gaskets. I have new Feltpro with aluminum heads and a freshly machined block.
Thanks, Carl Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
09-22-2019, 10:54 AM | #2 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
I use no sealers on my gaskets. Just the studs or bolts.
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09-22-2019, 11:26 AM | #3 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
I coat mine with regular grease.
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09-22-2019, 11:35 AM | #4 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Didn’t use anything on the gaskets(composite) , but did put Aviation Permatex on the head bolt threads.
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09-22-2019, 11:53 AM | #5 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Thank you guys!
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09-22-2019, 01:56 PM | #6 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
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09-22-2019, 03:07 PM | #7 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Grease
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09-22-2019, 03:09 PM | #8 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Grease. Jack E/NJ
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09-22-2019, 04:59 PM | #9 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
x3
john |
09-22-2019, 07:06 PM | #10 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Of course, I was thinking of the gasket surfaces only; I also use "Permatex" thread sealer on my head bolts.
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09-22-2019, 07:54 PM | #11 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
X2 especially if the are Copper head gaskets.
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I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH |
09-22-2019, 08:05 PM | #12 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
I would say that copper head gaskets are not a good choice for an engine with aluminum heads (electrolysis problems).
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09-22-2019, 08:17 PM | #13 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Also, don't you want the small water hole to the front on both gaskets? Been a few yrs since I had to pull heads. But maybe I'm thinking Y-block head gaskets....
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09-22-2019, 09:07 PM | #14 | |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Quote:
Really ?
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I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH |
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09-22-2019, 09:26 PM | #15 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
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09-22-2019, 10:12 PM | #16 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
No, I am not. Composite gaskets have worked fine for me over the years and I wouldn't use anything else.
Elementary high school chemistry : http://www.fenestration.net/pdf_docu...lar-Metals.pdf Last edited by tubman; 09-22-2019 at 10:18 PM. |
09-22-2019, 10:47 PM | #17 | |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Quote:
Composite gaskets don't work in race engines with big bores even if they made them. There are several anti corrosion products available for cooling systems that stop aluminum corrosion. |
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09-22-2019, 11:00 PM | #18 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
I see the problem here. Both you and "Ronnie Roadster" are serious racers. You exist in a whole different world than most of us on here. Look at it this way : The engines in top fuel dragsters are basically completely rebuilt between every round; does this mean that those of us with regular "street" engines should do the same? I think not.
Also, composite big bore gaskets are readily available. My latest build has a 3 5/16" bore and I had no problem finding gaskets. It also has a MAX-1, Edmunds heads and upgraded ignition and carburation systems. I don't consider it a stock engine. I try to buy all of the reasonably priced flathead finned aluminum heads I can. I pass on the majority of heads I find because of excessive corrosion. Last edited by tubman; 09-22-2019 at 11:18 PM. |
09-23-2019, 06:57 AM | #19 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
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09-23-2019, 07:00 AM | #20 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
I owned (years ago) several early flatheads with factory equipped aluminum heads and composite gaskets.
About 60% of them corroded and leaked and had to be replaced (with used iron ones) from the junk yard. Just wonder what caused the corrosion considering that they had composite gaskets.
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DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES Last edited by 51 MERC-CT; 09-23-2019 at 07:07 AM. |
09-23-2019, 07:09 AM | #21 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Water. Water is corrosive without conditioners.
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09-23-2019, 07:33 AM | #22 | |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Quote:
My current build is 3 3/8" +.030 and I didn't find composite that large nor was it recommended. To each is own, but I think 3 5/16", albeit a nice large bore, still falls within the stock sized head gasket. Please someone correct me if this is wrong information. |
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09-23-2019, 08:18 AM | #23 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Nope. Big bore composite gaskets from Speedway (I believe they were Fel-Pro). BTW, I had considered running standard gaskets until I fitted one on my engine and saw how it overlapped the bore slightly. I didn't want to take a chance of the steel "fire ring" on a standard gasket protruding into the combustion chamber, even if by a little bit.
It's odd.There are a lot of folks on here that will tell you that you shouldn't go over .060 overbore on any flathead, and also some that are talking bores larger than 3 3/8". I have never been lucky at anything, so I'll stick to 3 5/16" myself. I wonder how many people realize that you can make a 258" flathead (3 5/16" bore and standard stroke), a lot cheaper than you can make a 255" flathead by going the Merc crank route? (Plus it will have reduced piston speed.) |
09-23-2019, 08:40 AM | #24 | |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Quote:
Tubman, My journey with a block was not a good one and is the same experience many others has had. To start, I thought I had a 59AB that an incompetent machine shop did all the work on 3 5/16" bore, etc. They did not mag the valve valley. Upon pressure testing, a 8" crack showed up at 20 lbs. My builder likes to go to 50, so that block is slide lined for a later date. That part of the block is very thin. It may need to be epoxied and not TIG'd. Two 99A Merc blocks, both cracked into bore through intake seat. Will eventually get them fixed, but not at this time. 8RT block I have is good, but has some brazed repair on the valve seats. This block is now destined for an Ardun set up. Last chance block was a 59L motor that my buddy gave me. It was already out to 3 3/8ths when I got it. We were hoping to just clean it up @ +.010". No dice. Thorough sonic testing revealed the walls were still plenty thick so it finally cleaned up at +.030". The finished bore size was 3.4050" With a 4" stroke, it makes this motor a 292". After tearing down 5 blocks in a short period of time, I am convinced that its not just bore size that makes these motors overheat, but the shit that gets caked in the water jackets. All five blocks had crud that went about 1/2 up the outside portion of the cylinder wall. Top that with an out of tune or poorly timed motors, clogged radiators, inefficient water pumps, etc, I can see why they overheated. The 59L block had some much crud inside, I could drive a long screw driver into it like a stake. I'm not kidding. It was the worst I've ever seen. My block for the 292 has had every last bit of rust, scale, and sand cleaned out it. The coolant will have complete water to metal contact. I'm using a Walker radiator, correctly timed ignition, metric ring pack and Skip's pumps, I'm confident there will not be any problems cooling this motor. Last edited by Tim Ayers; 09-23-2019 at 09:02 AM. |
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09-23-2019, 09:44 AM | #25 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Tim, I agree with everything you are saying. It's just, that with my luck, I'd be taking all 5 blocks to the scrapper. I think I have mentioned here that I sold my second to the last good 8BA block to a local guy who had been through 5 engines with blocks that were essentially junk. I don't see why anyone would be putting thousands of dollars of labor and parts into a block that was not squeaky clean. I think back in the day, nobody even considered this; a quick dip in the hot tank and then off to the machining. Even the last 258" engine I just finished, the bores looked good and it sonic tested to go to 3 3/8". After the bore to 3 5/16, a casting flaw showed up (a big pit). My machinist said I could probably run it as is, but we decided to sleeve that cylinder just to be sure.
Now, let's get back to the O/P's question. Over the years I have built 4 flatheads from the ground up. I know that's nothing compared to some people on here, but I never had the need to deck any of the blocks, and never had any problems with the heads not sealing without using sealer. That was with three sets of finned aluminum heads and one set of stockers. |
09-23-2019, 01:06 PM | #26 | |
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Re: Head gasket installation
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Quote:
Ronnieroadster
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I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH Last edited by Ronnieroadster; 09-23-2019 at 01:12 PM. |
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09-23-2019, 02:34 PM | #27 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
^ probably the non use of suitable corrosion inhibitors (now just commonly called anti-freeze or summer coolant).
Sorry this was in response to 51 Merc CT's question. |
09-24-2019, 10:50 PM | #28 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Probably a non issue now days. maybe never... guess enough that we post about it. Not sure we do the same about waterpump gaskets. But maybe we do.
I like composites even for iron heads. I'd guess the copper ones are very decent for you high compression guys. Last edited by Tinker; 09-24-2019 at 10:58 PM. |
09-25-2019, 09:45 AM | #29 |
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Re: Head gasket installation
Edelbrock makes aluminum heads and has both copper and composite gaskets for their heads. I ordered the composite, and the water jacket holes are edged with a copper ringed edge. I asked their tech about a sealant, and they said either nothing or permitex spray copper gasket.
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