The Ford Barn

36coupe · 08-01-2018, 11:38 AM

I want to the clearance from piston to the head on a 59ab engine but I do not have any used gaskets. I plan to use felpro head gaskets.
Is there a thickness I can assume the felpro head gasket will compress to?

I searched and can not find the answer.

B-O-B · 08-01-2018, 11:45 AM

Approximately .050. Depends on your head being flat/even(no high spots) & what setting you use to torque the nuts down. I use 50#. Buy a gasket set & do it right other wise you are just guessing.

tubman · 08-01-2018, 02:40 PM

I always do mine with no gaskets. When I get them so there is no interference, I'm at .050 "squish". Some guys like to get it down to .040-.045, but I think I'm good for a street engine.

russcc · 08-01-2018, 07:13 PM

Claying the heads to get .040 to 050 clearance with out a gasket should be good, then you add the thickness of your gasket to get the total clearance. The tighter the clearance, within reason, the higher the compression ratio, and the more efficient the engine runs.

JSeery · 08-01-2018, 08:49 PM

Russcc, did you state that correctly? With .040 to .050 without a gasket wouldn't you have around .090 to .100 with the gasket? I thought you were looking for around .000 without a gasket.

36coupe · 08-01-2018, 10:02 PM

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Okay thanks

08-01-2018, 11:38 AM	#1
36coupe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 864	Checking squish without a gasket I want to the clearance from piston to the head on a 59ab engine but I do not have any used gaskets. I plan to use felpro head gaskets. Is there a thickness I can assume the felpro head gasket will compress to? I searched and can not find the answer.

08-01-2018, 11:45 AM	#2
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: Checking squish without a gasket Approximately .050. Depends on your head being flat/even(no high spots) & what setting you use to torque the nuts down. I use 50#. Buy a gasket set & do it right other wise you are just guessing. Last edited by B-O-B; 08-01-2018 at 03:35 PM.

08-01-2018, 02:40 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,320	Re: Checking squish without a gasket I always do mine with no gaskets. When I get them so there is no interference, I'm at .050 "squish". Some guys like to get it down to .040-.045, but I think I'm good for a street engine.

08-01-2018, 07:13 PM	#4
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: Checking squish without a gasket Claying the heads to get .040 to 050 clearance with out a gasket should be good, then you add the thickness of your gasket to get the total clearance. The tighter the clearance, within reason, the higher the compression ratio, and the more efficient the engine runs.

08-01-2018, 08:49 PM	#5
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Checking squish without a gasket Russcc, did you state that correctly? With .040 to .050 without a gasket wouldn't you have around .090 to .100 with the gasket? I thought you were looking for around .000 without a gasket.

08-01-2018, 10:02 PM	#6
36coupe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 864	Re: Checking squish without a gasket Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Okay thanks