Head Gasket Advice

[KGBnut]

My head gasket just went. From the compression tests, it appears that it failed between 3 & 4 as I have no compression in either of those cylinders. I had put in a new gasket only two years ago when I replaced an exhaust valve. The gasket I had was a copper sandwich-type. I likely got it from Bratton's. Not a big deal to swap it out. Just a bit of a nuisance. I think I will get what they refer to as their "modern gasket."

Here is my question... I get the impression that between 3 & 4 is a common area for failure. Is that correct? Also, I vaguely remember someone mentioning adding some copper wire to that area to reinforce it. Does anyone know about this technique, and is it worth it? It doesn't sound practical to me.

I do plan on checking the head for 'true' and getting it milled if needed.

Thanks guys.

Ken

[1931 flamingo]

Please do a "search" as the "modern" gasket has been discussed a lot. Both pro and con.

Copper gasket would be my choice. JMO
Paul in CT

[Mitch//pa]

Buy the BEST brand gasket

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If it has no compression on 3 & 4, it must have blown out a BIG chunk. Be sure to check for WATER in the OIL!
Bill W.

[tbirdtbird]

let us know how you make out

[Jason in TX]

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I second what Mitch says. There is a brand called "BEST"

I think it is the best for sure!

Nice read on head gaskets for high performance Model A and B engines. Go with the BEST.

http://www.secretsofspeed.com/gaskets.htm

[Jason in TX]

Here it is at Mac's

http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mo...ion-heads.html

[Mitch//pa]

http://secretsofspeed.com/gaskets.htm

[H. L. Chauvin]

FWIW: After years of experience, appears it's similar to what works in a Corn Flakes Factory:

Some go to work wearing boxer shorts, some "Depends", some Hanes Briefs, some Pink Panties, some whatever ......... bottom line .......... they are all different ...... but if one would ask the individual, many different positive and negative opinions ......... if you tried them all .... you would find that if they fit properly and comfortably, you can make excellent Corn Flakes wearing any of them.

But remember, the "fit" is the most important ...... a misfit always causes noticeable leaks.

[jw hash]

I with you guy`s on the best head gasket. I put the so called modern head gasket on my Vicky 6 month`s ago and I torqued the head 4 times before I added water. and the radiator would foam over, I changed water pumps, one with a cut down impeller added a thermostat and it still foamed over. some buddies were talking about the best head gasket and what they had learned about on a visit to Bert`s. so I installed it and problem went away. no foam at all.

[Dick M]

The "Best Head Gasket" brand is absolutely the best head gasket I have ever used. I use it with my 5.5 head. You need to be able to read the embossed words "Best Head Gasket" when installing to be sure the correct side is up on the gasket. Bert's Model A Store sells them.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Just one (1) simple experience:

I used Bratton's modern silicone gasket over 6 -7 years ago and still have no leaks ..... coated both sides with "Permatex No. 2, even though not recommended ..... tried re-torquing my original higher compression Police Head marked B, after a few hundred miles, and all nuts were still at 55.

The former old 30 year old or so copper gasket I removed had never leaked either .... both head and engine were both found to be "dead flat".

FWIW: Just one (1) easy method often used to cause warped related Model A head gasket problems:

1. Find slight milky color of oil in one's crankcase or few bubbles in radiator.

2. Next time, start engine, find more bubbles, & stop warm engine to find more milky discoloration of oil.

3. With engine already hot, and still hot, with engine not running, no coolant flow, head now increases in temperature.

4. Hurry to get wrench, and in any sequence, "completely" loosen each nut one at a time, and remove head nuts in any sequence with head at a high temperature.

5. Really doesn't take much to warp a hot cast iron Model A head a few thousandths of an inch in any direction.

6. Many uninformed modern Model A owners prefer removing Model A heads like in the above paragraph 4. .... "Frank Sinatra Method", e.g. ........ "I did it My Way!".

7. Then they later appear on Model A Forums with warped heads, (whether formerly warped or recently warped), asking which Model A head gasket works best on a warped Model A head ........... nothing like reading head gasket Re-Runs for 20 years.

[V4F]

I would use the Best brand gasket, either graphtite or copper.

best answer + I use copper coat on both sides .

[waxhead]

This might be the thread you were looking for on installing the copper wire

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ad+gasket+wire

[updraught]

You might want to watch what Rich at AER says about head gaskets:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kDrtTJGsU
scroll to 35:42

As he says ... it is confusing ... as the Best web site says to use a copper spray, when the GraphTite gasket itself should self seal.

[Tom Wesenberg]

The only time I didn't use the copper spray was on my 1985 Dodge 2.5 engine, which had the modern gasket with the red imprint sealer. It leaked, so after that every head gasket gets copper spray, no matter what the gasket maker says.

[glenn in camino]

I always use a copper clad head gasket with a piece of copper wire between 3 and 4 and lots if copper coat sprayed on both sides.

[KGBnut]

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

I always use a copper clad head gasket with a piece of copper wire between 3 and 4 and lots if copper coat sprayed on both sides.

Can you explain this piece of copper wire in a bit more detail? I can't quite picture it.

Also, why just between 3 and 4? Is that a known point of failure?