copper head gaskets

grumpyvette

Administrator
Staff member
I rarely use anything BUT dead soft pure copper head gaskets sprayed on both sides over all surfaces till well coated & damp, with copper coat spray,
on both sides, I wait about 15 minutes then re-spray both sides, and install them after about a 5 minute wait,to allow both sides to semi dry a bit
thus installed on my engines, I've YET to have any leak in over 38 plus years I've used them

be sure you buy the correct type of head gasket for the model/ year block ,your heads, matching the coolant passages etc. and correct thickness of copper head gasket to get the quench distance correct
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now these embossed copper gaskets (above) are supposed to be the best choice,(I NEVER USE THEM)
but I've never seen or used those
cop2.png

these flat solid copper gaskets are supposed to be used with a wire fire ring with a groove machined into the block,
Ive been successfully using these gaskets
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without those fire rings for decades by just spraying them damp with copper coat and have never yet had one fail

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when installing almost any head gasket, but especially with a copper head gasket be sure to put on two wet even coats on both sides of the head gasket and install and torque while the copper coat sprays still damp
(mostly because they are re-usable after a good cleaning) and I pull the engine apart frequently for cam swaps and other mods
Any area where your clamping two dis-similar metals together they will have potential galvanic corrosion - you basically create a weak battery - with one anode and one cathode, from the two dis-similar metals plus the liquid that carry's electrons, what you basically have is potentially a battery, where the aluminum quickly is eaten away unless you've installed a couple sacrificial anodes. Using a sacrificial anode like a Zinc or magnesium bar will tend to force all corrosion to happen first to the zinc or magnesium anode,which must be replaced regularly,so as to significantly reduce the potential corrosion at the copper/aluminum contact area, especially if you maintain a high concentration or anti-freeze that slows the transfer of electrons. it also helps to make all electrical ground connections only to the iron block, never the aluminum cylinder heads as remembering to make electrical connections only on the iron block will limit the corrosion
I got asked if USING anodes, in an engine is a good idea?
ITS NOT ONLY A GOOD IDEA ITS MANDATORY IN SOME APPLICATIONS!
if you were for example to use aluminum heads on a cast iron block with a copper head gasket (something IVE done frequently)
you need to realize you've effectively built a battery if you don,t use both several ANODES and at least a 50% or higher concentration of anti freeze as the dissimilar metals will cause the aluminum, to disintegrate over time without the anodes and high anti freeze concentration.



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Keep in mind there are solid copper head gaskets , Ive used for decades that you simply spray with copper coat and install damp and torque in place, and the TITAN style with a steel fire ring, sandwiched between to layers of copper, Ive never used the titan style but have used the solid copper gaskets extensively with good results, in both cases the head gasket must be slightly recessed between the head and block ,not sticking out into the edge of the combustion chamber
http://www.scegaskets.com/products/procopphd.html

http://www.goodvibesracing.com/SBC_Head_Gaskets.htm

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku

https://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/measuring-piston-dome-volume.17255/

just make sure the block and heads are totally de-greased
and the proper torque sequence is used.
Ive used those many times, very successfully




http://www.valvedirectory.com/valve_04122006.html
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the slight miss alignment on the coolant ports has no effect
coppercoat.jpg

when installing a copper head gasket be sure to put on two wet even coats on both sides of the head gasket and install and torque while the copper coat sprays still damp
I got asked if anodes are a good idea?
well, when you run an aluminum performance cylinder head on an iron engine block with pure copper head gaskets, like Ive been doing for many years, those anodes are mandatory, and yes they do work, and prevent or at least slow electrolysis a great deal


http://www.ve-labs.com/productpdfs/Product Sheet RadCap Revised.pdf

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/anode.html

http://www.bmcno.org/RadCap.htm

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...10101&sku=anode&searchbtn.x=16&searchbtn.y=12


http://www.scegaskets.com" www.scegaskets.com look under, catalog, Chevy head gaskets) I have been using SOLID COPPER HEAD GASKETS for years with aluminum heads on iron blocks (WITHOUT (O)rings) If your surfaces are strait and true and you correctly install them they work fine, now keep in mind that you MUST run high concentrations of anti-freeze and an anode in the radiator sure does not hurt to prevent electrolysis from causing problems but I have never yet lost a head gasket and that includes nitrous use on several engines. now they sure are not your only option but they are a good one. btw I totally clean and degrease the block deck and head surfaces then spray the head gasket wet with COPPER COAT GASKET SPRAY then install them tacky wet and torque them down in 5LB stages to factory spec http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml?CATID=5131&BQ=jcw2" http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jhtml?CATID=5131&BQ=jcw2

RADIATOR CORROSION INHIBITOR Prevents overheated radiators caused by rust, scale and corrosion. Save money on needless flushing, repairs, anti-freeze changes, special additives! Zinc anode slips in radiator filler neck and neutralizes rust/corrosion-causing chemicals. Lasts for years. NOTE: Not for radiators with plastic tanks. http://www.pjhbrands.com/vht/coppergasketcement.htm


http://www.radcapproducts.com/order.html
I prefer aluminum heads,iron blocks, and copper gaskets (which potentially makes for a electrolysis nightmare)
Ive always used 50% or better anti-freeze and an anode to reduce corrosion to ZIP, its WORKED,NO CORROSION . I think Ill stick with what works :grin:
BENEFITS OF COPPER HEAD GASKETS 1. Conductivity. Copper is the standard by which all other conductors are measured. Therefore, a copper gasket provides superior thermal conductivity and stabilizes head and block temperatures which makes tuning easier. 2. 25% coefficient of elasticity. One of the properties of copper is that it stretches before a catastrophic failure, thereby providing an extra measure of safety in case of severe detonation. 3. Strength. Copper (in the form we use) has a tensile strength of approximately 32,000 psi, compare this to the 1,200 to 1800 psi tensile of most facing materials used on conventional performance head gaskets.


Yes, they can be reused several times as long as there are no signs of failure, such as carbon tracking or corrosion damage if they are carefully cleaned before reuse.

steel head gaskets won,t work correctly on aluminum heads simply because aluminum being significantly softer , will indent and loose clamping force over time, you will need to use a head gasket that's designed for aluminum, Id suggest contacting SCE, and FELPRO to ask their advice, IVE never had the slightest problem with the thin copper head gaskets used without the o-rings but unless the heads and deck on the block are perfectly flat you could have, so your a bit safer going with the standard gasket designs
SUMMIT RACING,BRODIX, DART,or AIR FLOW RESEARCH TECH GUYS MIGHT ALSO HELP
 
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btw adding this to the coolant and verifying your engine grounds to the cars frame are good helps reduce problems
water%20pump%20lube.JPG

All the dissimilar metals and metallic ions floating around in the water will cause galvanic corrosion. use a sacrificial Zinc anode and use of the anti-rust agent makes it less likely your aluminum heads and intake will be getting eaten around the coolant passages, and near the t-stat...
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=827&p=1231#p1231

read this
http://www.sancarlosradiator.com/electrolysis.htm

heres one option that eliminates electrolysis
http://www.evanscooling.com/products/
 
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