The Ford Barn

elmangle · 08-07-2019, 12:26 PM

Getting ready to reinstall one of the heads on my 8rt engine and I notice in the catalogs a significant difference between composite and copper gaskets.
The composites have only a small hole connecting the lower tear-drop-shaped passages whereas the copper gasket orifice matches the shape exactly. Is there a reason for this, and is one better than the other?

estout81 · 08-07-2019, 01:06 PM

I think the holes in the gaskets regulate water flow. Somebody that knows more than me will comment. I had leaking problems with copper gaskets. Replaced them with "Best" brand composite gaskets. No problems after several years of running.

elmangle · 08-07-2019, 02:18 PM

Interesting.....the Best catalog shows composites with a restricted passage, and two different coppers, one restricted and one not. I assumed by the numbers that was might have been left and the other right, but the text doesn't say.

19Fordy · 08-07-2019, 02:28 PM

At some point between 1949 -53 FORD engineers redesigned the water flow hole sizes in the head gasket hoping to force more "cooler" water to the rear of the block for better cooling.

19Fordy · 08-07-2019, 02:39 PM

Ford changed the design of the 49-53 head gaskets hoping to force more water to the rear of the block and improve cooling. More info. here:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...t-help.669342/

elmangle · 08-08-2019, 07:45 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Do you think the new design is the restricted one?

19Fordy · 08-08-2019, 08:23 AM

Since the goal of the redesign was to first pump more water to enter the rear of the block, it would seem logical that the head gasket with larger water holes at the rear would be better than one with smaller holes. Be sure and read all this:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...t-help.669342/

elmangle · 08-13-2019, 09:20 AM

Thanks, 19Fordy. I read everything twice, but there's still no answer to why one or the other style gasket would be preferable. Still baffled.

Byron Warwick · 08-13-2019, 10:39 AM

I was told that the larger holes in the block are to make it easier to remove the casting sand. Then the gaskets smaller holes control the flow to what the engineers wanted.
Cheers, Byron.

elmangle · 08-13-2019, 11:02 AM

Thanks, Byron. Do you recall the source of that information?

Ol' Ron · 08-13-2019, 11:03 AM

I would use a gasket made By "Best" gaskets. Over the years, It;s been found tht by changing some of the holes in the gasket would improve cooling. Some gasket makers haven't kept up with progress.

elmangle · 08-13-2019, 12:12 PM

Very interesting....I checked the Best side and their gaskets are all the restricted type, so guess that's the way I'll go.

elmangle · 08-13-2019, 12:13 PM

Thanks, everyone, for the help!

08-07-2019, 12:26 PM	#1
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Head gaskets Getting ready to reinstall one of the heads on my 8rt engine and I notice in the catalogs a significant difference between composite and copper gaskets. The composites have only a small hole connecting the lower tear-drop-shaped passages whereas the copper gasket orifice matches the shape exactly. Is there a reason for this, and is one better than the other?

08-07-2019, 01:06 PM	#2
estout81 BANNED Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Utica, Ohio Posts: 522	Re: Head gaskets I think the holes in the gaskets regulate water flow. Somebody that knows more than me will comment. I had leaking problems with copper gaskets. Replaced them with "Best" brand composite gaskets. No problems after several years of running.

08-07-2019, 02:18 PM	#3
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Re: Head gaskets Interesting.....the Best catalog shows composites with a restricted passage, and two different coppers, one restricted and one not. I assumed by the numbers that was might have been left and the other right, but the text doesn't say.

08-07-2019, 02:28 PM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,942	Re: Head gaskets At some point between 1949 -53 FORD engineers redesigned the water flow hole sizes in the head gasket hoping to force more "cooler" water to the rear of the block for better cooling.

08-07-2019, 02:39 PM	#5
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,942	Re: Head gaskets Ford changed the design of the 49-53 head gaskets hoping to force more water to the rear of the block and improve cooling. More info. here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...t-help.669342/

08-08-2019, 07:45 AM	#6
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Re: Head gaskets Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Do you think the new design is the restricted one?

08-08-2019, 08:23 AM	#7
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,942	Re: Head gaskets Since the goal of the redesign was to first pump more water to enter the rear of the block, it would seem logical that the head gasket with larger water holes at the rear would be better than one with smaller holes. Be sure and read all this: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...t-help.669342/ Last edited by 19Fordy; 08-08-2019 at 08:36 AM.

08-13-2019, 09:20 AM	#8
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Re: Head gaskets Thanks, 19Fordy. I read everything twice, but there's still no answer to why one or the other style gasket would be preferable. Still baffled.

08-13-2019, 10:39 AM	#9
Byron Warwick Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Corunna, Ontario, Canada Posts: 309	Re: Head gaskets I was told that the larger holes in the block are to make it easier to remove the casting sand. Then the gaskets smaller holes control the flow to what the engineers wanted. Cheers, Byron. __________________ IT'S NOT YOUR AGE, IT'S YOUR ATTITUDE !

08-13-2019, 11:02 AM	#10
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Re: Head gaskets Thanks, Byron. Do you recall the source of that information?

08-13-2019, 11:03 AM	#11
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Head gaskets I would use a gasket made By "Best" gaskets. Over the years, It;s been found tht by changing some of the holes in the gasket would improve cooling. Some gasket makers haven't kept up with progress.

08-13-2019, 12:12 PM	#12
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Re: Head gaskets Very interesting....I checked the Best side and their gaskets are all the restricted type, so guess that's the way I'll go.

08-13-2019, 12:13 PM	#13
elmangle Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	Re: Head gaskets Thanks, everyone, for the help!