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Head Gasket Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter mattmcdan
  • Start date Start date May 5, 2006

mattmcdan

Member
Apr 19, 2006
176
0
19
Okeechobee, Florida
May 5, 2006
#1
  • May 5, 2006
  • #1
Hey guys, I have a few quick questions about the install of my new heads. I have the head gaskets out of the box, they are both identical, they both say front on one end of the gasket ON BOTH sides. Heres where it gets tricky... The head gaskets only have water jackets on one end. If I put the gasket on the block, the front water jacket is exposed(open) on the passenger side, If I do this on the driver side, the rear water jacket is exposed (open) I'm sure both head gaskets are facing up as the chamber grooves are up and look like this |OOOO| and on the back side its flat engine mating side. Is it possible the gasket company gave me the wrong gaskets? Or does the water jacket holes not matter if one is exposed at front and one at rear?
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
2
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
May 5, 2006
#2
  • May 5, 2006
  • #2
I always thought they were both the same.
 

mattmcdan

Member
Apr 19, 2006
176
0
19
Okeechobee, Florida
May 5, 2006
#3
  • May 5, 2006
  • #3
Ok so I called up the gasket maker (corteco) they say that one water jacket goes front, and 1 water jacket goes rear on the block.. Does this sound right?
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
2
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
May 5, 2006
#4
  • May 5, 2006
  • #4
I'm pretty sure thats right. On a chevy it's right there is no left head and right head so I was assuming the same way with ford's
 
R

Raginstang

New Member
Sep 28, 2003
166
0
0
SANTA CRUZ CA
May 5, 2006
#5
  • May 5, 2006
  • #5
You should have gotten 2 EXACT same headgaskets. the same part number and everything, one gasket will go on upside down. but make sure you have the words FRONT facing the radiator. other than that. your good to go, not all of the holes are used for coolant.
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
2
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
May 5, 2006
#6
  • May 5, 2006
  • #6
^^^ me like your avatar
 

mattmcdan

Member
Apr 19, 2006
176
0
19
Okeechobee, Florida
May 5, 2006
#7
  • May 5, 2006
  • #7
Ive never heard of a head gasket going on upside down?
 

mattmcdan

Member
Apr 19, 2006
176
0
19
Okeechobee, Florida
May 5, 2006
#8
  • May 5, 2006
  • #8
Anyone have a chiltons or haynes they can double check this?
 

mattmcdan

Member
Apr 19, 2006
176
0
19
Okeechobee, Florida
May 5, 2006
#9
  • May 5, 2006
  • #9
bumpity bump
 

04sleeper

Founding Member
Jun 22, 2002
2,674
14
89
Dallas, TX
May 5, 2006
#10
  • May 5, 2006
  • #10
mattmcdan said:
Ive never heard of a head gasket going on upside down?
Click to expand...
Raginstang is right on.

One goes on upside down.

The important thing is that both gaskets are placed on with FRONT facing the front of the car.

This is why one is upside down.

It is normal. It is so the coolant runs around the block correctly.
 
R

Raginstang

New Member
Sep 28, 2003
166
0
0
SANTA CRUZ CA
May 6, 2006
#11
  • May 6, 2006
  • #11
yes, you should get 2 gaskets that are exactly the same, you will realize that you cant install them both straight up with front facing forward unless you turn one upside down. make sure the big coolant passages are in the back of the block. pretty hard to mess up as long as you have the words FRONT facing the front of the the car, as said before, its normal to place one upside down. its not really upside down, just how it works! oh roland69 thanks for the avatar comment, I stole it from someone a long time ago
 
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