like he stated, most gaskets are installed dry, BUT if you are using steel shim gaskets, then use a sealer like spray on copper coat. check the instructions that come with the gasket though as some gasket makers tell you to use sealant on some composite gaskets.
We've mostly used silver frost paint, both on the head and the block. I think it's like an epoxy base with miniature aluminium flakes as the colourant. Theory being that it fills up any minor imperfections in the head/block.
A few years ago I completely rebuilt my Falcon 6 and for some reason I didn't use any. It lasted 2 years before water started leaking into #1. When I replaced the head gasket I used the paint (no machining on the head or block) and it's still going good 4 years later.
did you get the blue fel-pro or the printo-seal? if you have the printo-seal install them dry, if you have the blue you can go either way with the copper paint of dry. i install all mine dry
The last set I did was the expanded graphite Felpro's for the newer small blocks on my 331 with aluminum heads, I gave these a liberal coat of copper-kote because of the aluminum heads. Normally I install them dry, ditto for the permatorque blue's. The Printo seal's? NEVER again. Had two failures with these with aluminum heads.
Yeah, D.Hearne. I am not a fan of wet installs. I tried copper gaskets with Hylomar. But ended up taking them off becuase they almost hydrolocked my motor.