What head gasket do you prefer?

ratio411

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#1

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306 with Edelbrock Performer heads, 4.030" bore, 10:1 compression, NA...

What head gasket would you use, and why?

 

NIKwoaC

中國製造

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Not running boost or spray, not terribly high compression, you can pretty much run any sort of a basic stock replacement head gasket. My car is like ~9.8:1, aluminum head, untouched block deck, and I'm running a stock replacement Fel Pro with no issues. Part number is escaping me right now, I'd have to dig out my paperwork.

 

ratio411

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I just built the engine, and used generic stock replacements that came in the kit, and now I have water in cylinder 6.
The block was worked, the deck was not done as it was checked flat, the heads were milled .018" due to some gasket brinnelling.

I think I am going back with a Fel-Pro 1011-2.
I have used those before on old school 289/302s without issue.

Hopefully the issue is not hardware related.
If so, I have to have some words with my machinist.

 

93project

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#4

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Fel pro 1011-2 are all I use for aluminum heads.

 

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ratio411

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93project said:

Fel pro 1011-2 are all I use for aluminum heads.

Click to expand...

I didn't like the crap that came in the kit my son bought, but I already made him upgrade so much stuff, and being 18 (on a budget), I felt bad about asking him to pop for another set of head gaskets, and used what he had. Now I wish I hadn't.

Unless there is a hardware problem, like a crack or something that the machine shop missed, it has to be the gasket.
I noticed they were bent some from being thown in the box with all the other parts that came in the kit, including heavy stuff like pistons and such. I figured once torqued they would flatten out and be fine, but all I can figure is that there must have been a crease or something.

 

ratio411

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I sure hope the head isn't cracked...

The kid paid 600 for the set of heads, 1.7 rollers, and then there was all the machine shop expense.
I don't think I could tell him he needs to fork over another 600 just for a bare head casting to replace a cracked one.

 

clement

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#7

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an aluminum head can be fixed. it was probably as simple as a blown HG though. some of the cheap HGs blow if you look at them. was the deck of the heads flat?

 

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ratio411

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clement said:

was the deck of the head flat?

Click to expand...

Yeah, I told the machinist to mill the block and/or heads as needed.
The block came back virgin, he said it was great, the heads got milled .018" due to gasket brinelling (dimples?).

 

clement

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man, those heads were pretty pitted to cut .018 off them. at least now you gained some compression. lol

 

ratio411

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clement said:

man, those heads were pretty pitted to cut .018 off them. at least now you gained some compression. lol

Click to expand...

Yeah, they were great looking, except you could see the pattern of the gasket in the surface.

 

srtthis

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I prefer the ROL gasket over felpro. The ROL has a 1 piece fire ring that won't shift

 

clement

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i havent run the ROL gaskets since about '98. i guess they must have changed something because the set i used blew at 8lbs of boost with a very conservative tune and arp head studs. i replaced them with some FP 8548s on it and never had a problem.

 

rdharper02

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#13

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Huge fan of anything fel-pro, but have heard great things about Cometic's products. I might try them on the next build, but for now its solely the FPs.

 

2000xp8

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#14

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My buddy uses 9333pt1's on almost everything.

If you blew a head gasket, likely it's not the head gasket itself that is the problem.
You either have some type of hardware failure, installation error or detonation.

 

65ShelbyClone

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I like the 9333 gaskets too. No problems, but I started with a new block and heads and used ARP bolts. In other words, best case scenario.

What sort of fasteners are you using? Stock bolts? Thread lube?

 

ratio411

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The gaskets were the bottom of the line stock replacement Fel-Pros.
They are steel core with a coating of very soft gray material (graphite?).
The soft stuff spreads like paste and is supposed to seal.
There was a blow out of the gray paste between the fire ring and the water passage.
Plain and simple.

The machinist checked the head, and it is still in primo condition.
He cleaned all the gray crap up for me free of charge.
He says that those gaskets are no good for aluminum heads, or performance useage.

 

ratio411

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65ShelbyClone said:

I like the 9333 gaskets too. No problems, but I started with a new block and heads and used ARP bolts. In other words, best case scenario.

What sort of fasteners are you using? Stock bolts? Thread lube?

Click to expand...

ARP bolts with "Ultra Torque" thread lube.
Block was hot tanked, and the holes were chased with a tap.

Going back with Fel-Pro 1011-2 head gaskets, and going to do both heads to be safe.

 

Rick 91GT

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#18

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I'm with Clement on this one, we've used the 8548PT2 (stock $17 replacement gasket) on a 1000hp Renegade car in a pinch, no issues...

I actually like the Mr.Gasket Ultra Seals over the Fel-Pro 1011-xx series, but I still prefer the Fel-Pro MLS gaskets over the Cometic.

Make sure you get a little lube under the washers and head of the bolt as well

 

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85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

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#19

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I've always ran good old parts store Felpros, but I also have a NA stock block with iron heads and reasonable compression. Still they hold up to ~450hp @ 7500RPM just fine.