Blown Head Gasket.

Edster · Jul 16, 2012

I'm gonna replace my head gaskets but my budget is a little tight, so what would be best for the money. I've seen them as low a fifteen bucks each to forty and much more. Unfortunenatly there's not detail on the different gaskets.

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dennis112 · Jul 16, 2012

Fel Pro 9333-PT-1 will do the job well. About $20 each and available almost anywhere.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/bu...-gasket-by-felpro-part-9333-pt-1-gaskets.html

horse sence · Jul 16, 2012

Fel pro is about the best for the buck wouldnt go cheep here
head gsakets are not fun to change in the car

Tropic03GT · Jul 16, 2012

+1 for felpro all I use at work I pull heads all the time bc ppl want to play mechanic and use some half ass head gasket that ends up blowing.

Edster · Jul 16, 2012

Yeah, I've always been a Fel-Pro fan. I saw some Fel-Pro gaskets around $15 then $20, $40, and $100. I'm just womderin' about the differenc 'tween the cheaper ones and how they would hold up over time. I don't remember what I put on back twentuy years ago when I built the engine. I'm runnin over 10:1 compression yet I hope that I don't have to fork out $200 for some gaskets, but I will if I absolutely must.

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iskwezm · Jul 17, 2012

I used the "cheap" Fel Pro for years till i switched to the Fel Pro MLS (for the turbo)

67rcks · Jul 17, 2012

pick any non-MLS felpro
cheaper felpro 8240 (I guess) than 9333 is OK too, IMO even better for non-machined blocks/heads because it has milder steel rings (rest is identical)

Edster · Jul 17, 2012

I really didn't thin it would make much of a difference, but I thought I'd ask just because technologys has improved over the years.

Rusty67 · Jul 17, 2012

If you are going to reuse your head bolts make sure to put them back in the exact hole they came out of.

horseballz · Jul 17, 2012

Re-use of head bolts should be avoided if at all possible, due to stretching at specified torque. If you have to do it, do as Rusty said and make sure all threads are clean and re-use only for the lowest of performance (compression) applications. As with any torque dependent fastener, make sure to lubricate the threads and underside of the bolt heads to achieve maximum clamping force for the given torque. With a small block Ford, on the lower head bolts that need thread sealant, the sealant (while still wet) adequately doubles as the lube. "A lubricated threaded fastener will provide up to 17 times more clamping force than a dry threaded fastener!"
My $.02,
Gene

67rcks · Jul 18, 2012

not all small blocks have stretching bolts. e.g. older 302s have regular bolts (reusable in any hole). if you have strechning bolts do not reuse them.

Rusty67 · Jul 18, 2012

67rcks you shouldn't reuse them in different holes. ARP put out a white paper on this after an extensive study. I don't have a link to it but I'm sure I can scare it up.

rbohm · Jul 18, 2012

regarding which gasket to use, in my opinion felpros are the best, or at least very near the top.

in regards to the head bolts, stock 302 head bolts dont stretch much, and are not torque to yield bolts, however chances are that they are original equipment and are tired. do yourself a big favor a pony up the few extra bucks and get a set of ARP head bolts for your ride. and dont forget the ARP lube that goes with the bolts.

Rusty67 · Jul 18, 2012

Or go with studs !

67rcks · Jul 19, 2012

horseball (maybe others) which small blocks do need sealant on lower head bolts?
I saw 302 and the threaded hole did not protrude to cooling system, why would you then seal the threads?

Rusty67 · Jul 19, 2012

It can't hurt to put it in there right ? Better safe then sorry....

rbohm · Jul 19, 2012

to be honest i have never put sealant on any head bolts, even a small block chevy where i knew the heads bolt holes went into the cooling jacket, and i have never had a leak. the key is to keep the bolt holes and bolts clean, and torque them properly.

horse sence · Jul 19, 2012

it is also a good idea to run a tap down the bolt holes to clean out any rust or carbon build up ,you can tape off the cylinders to keep crud out when chasing the threads
dont break off the tap been there done that ,wont do it again

j69302 · Jul 19, 2012

rbohm said:
to be honest i have never put sealant on any head bolts, even a small block chevy where i knew the heads bolt holes went into the cooling jacket, and i have never had a leak. the key is to keep the bolt holes and bolts clean, and torque them properly.

Agreed. I never used sealant on any either. The 69 ford shop manual, and my Haynes manual do not state any sealant either, just oil.

I did however use new arp bolts any time I pulled them off, and the fel pro gaskets with the pre-flattened copper ring around the cylinder opening.

rbohm · Jul 20, 2012

j69302 said:
Agreed. I never used sealant on any either. The 69 ford shop manual, and my Haynes manual do not state any sealant either, just oil.

I did however use new arp bolts any time I pulled them off, and the fel pro gaskets with the pre-flattened copper ring around the cylinder opening.

the copper ring works nice, but i tend to prefer the steel fire ring instead. just a preference though.

Blown Head Gasket.

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