Two Gasket Questions

[Indycars]

1.) I'm concerned about the repeatability of the compressed thickness of a head gasket, when I'm trying to get a specific deck clearance. What can be expected + - 0.002" maybe???

2.) How well do the one piece pan gaskets work for a SBC Gen I or a Dart SHP block??? Since it's absolutely open under my pan (T-Bucket), I would love to be able to pull the pan and check for metal accumulation on the magnets or just to check out the general health of the bottom end. Can I expect to remove/replace the pan several times without creating a leak???

Rick Miller

 

[grumpyvette]

1.) I'm concerned about the repeatability of the compressed thickness of a head gasket, when I'm trying to get a specific deck clearance. What can be expected + - 0.002" maybe???


IM not 100% sure what your asking as MOST head gaskets are a one time use and replace component, but yes in most cases they will compress under similar clamp loads to within that .002 almost every time, aluminum heads are not quite as consistent as iron heads as the aluminum surface is a softer surface and can brinell (indent) under long term clamp loads where they heat cycle

2.) How well do the one piece pan gaskets work for a SBC Gen I or a Dart SHP block??? Since it's absolutely open under my pan (T-Bucket), I would love to be able to pull the pan and check for metal accumulation on the magnets or just to check out the general health of the bottom end. Can I expect to remove/replace the pan several times without creating a leak???

Im not sure how you install yours or how rigid the oil pan your using is, but Ive reused my one piece synthetic oil pan gaskets several times without problems, Ive use contact cement between the engine block and upper gasket surface and nothing between the gasket lower surface and oil pan

Rick Miller

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=206&p=390&hilit=+seal+thick+pan#p390

you might want to Use with P/N 12553058 RH and P/N 12553059 LH oil pan reinforcement plates to distribute the bolt stress on the oil pan rail for 1985 and earlier oil pansP/N 14088501 (LH) and P/N 14088502 (RH).1986 and newer

 

[Indycars]

1.) I'm concerned about the repeatability of the compressed thickness of a head gasket, when I'm trying to get a specific deck clearance. What can be expected + - 0.002" maybe???

IM not 100% sure what your asking as MOST head gaskets are a one time use and replace component, but yes in most cases they will compress under similar clamp loads to within that .002 almost every time, aluminum heads are not quite as consistent as iron heads as the aluminum surface is a softer surface and can brinell (indent) under long term clamp loads where they heat cycle

Ok I see where I wasn't clear, I'm not using the same gasket over and over. If the published number for a head gasket is 0.040" compressed and I buy 10 of those head gaskets, how much variance will I likely see in their compressed thickness??? I was concerned that I would be expecting deck clearance to be 0.040", when it's actually 0.035" and then the piston hits the head. I'm wondering if there is a way to actually measure the deck clearance after the heads are installed??? Also I have looked at FelPro's website and I don't find any compressed numbers, where are people getting them??? I haven't looked at the other manufactures yet.

2.) How well do the one piece pan gaskets work for a SBC Gen I or a Dart SHP block??? Since it's absolutely open under my pan (T-Bucket), I would love to be able to pull the pan and check for metal accumulation on the magnets or just to check out the general health of the bottom end. Can I expect to remove/replace the pan several times without creating a leak???

Im not sure how you install yours or how rigid the oil pan your using is, but Ive reused my one piece synthetic oil pan gaskets several times without problems, Ive use contact cement between the engine block and upper gasket surface and nothing between the gasket lower surface and oil pan

The pan is yet to be purchased, so I'm looking at my options now. Is there a particular brand or style that you like better for the one piece pan gaskets???


Rick Miller

 

[grumpyvette]

1.) I'm concerned about the repeatability of the compressed thickness of a head gasket, when I'm trying to get a specific deck clearance. What can be expected + - 0.002" maybe???

IM not 100% sure what your asking as MOST head gaskets are a one time use and replace component, but yes in most cases they will compress under similar clamp loads to within that .002 almost every time, aluminum heads are not quite as consistent as iron heads as the aluminum surface is a softer surface and can brinell (indent) under long term clamp loads where they heat cycle

Ok I see where I wasn't clear, I'm not using the same gasket over and over. If the published number for a head gasket is 0.040" compressed and I buy 10 of those head gaskets, how much variance will I likely see in their compressed thickness??? I was concerned that I would be expecting deck clearance to be 0.040", when it's actually 0.035" and then the piston hits the head. I'm wondering if there is a way to actually measure the deck clearance after the heads are installed??? Also I have looked at FelPro's website and I don't find any compressed numbers, where are people getting them??? I haven't looked at the other manufactures yet.

the stated compressed thickness is remarkably consistent, I doubt seriously if Ive ever seen variations more than the .002 and most are in the .001 range, especially if your heads and block deck are machined truely flat/smooth, be aware that spraying the gaskets with a sealant like copper coat spray and installing them while still damp, or using gaskets that don,t require any sealant is far more consistent than using sealants like the brush on and tube sealants like halomar

2.) How well do the one piece pan gaskets work for a SBC Gen I or a Dart SHP block??? Since it's absolutely open under my pan (T-Bucket), I would love to be able to pull the pan and check for metal accumulation on the magnets or just to check out the general health of the bottom end. Can I expect to remove/replace the pan several times without creating a leak???

Im not sure how you install yours or how rigid the oil pan your using is, but Ive reused my one piece synthetic oil pan gaskets several times without problems, Ive use contact cement between the engine block and upper gasket surface and nothing between the gasket lower surface and oil pan
youll occasionally find uses for a high temp rated silicone sealant
like ultra-copper that has about twice the temp tolerance of the common black RTV

The pan is yet to be purchased, so I'm looking at my options now. Is there a particular brand or style that you like better for the one piece pan gaskets???

obviously that depends on the application to some extent,
first choice
http://www.stefs.com/products.html
and these roughly in that order
kevco
http://www.kevko.net/

canton
http://www.cantonracingproducts.com/


milodon
http://www.milodon.com/

moroso
http://www.moroso.com/default.asp




Rick Miller

if you want total consistency use solid copper head gaskets installed wet with a light spray of copper coat (Ive used SCE copper gaskets on race engines for years, and yes IM only too aware that it says you need o-rings, Ive seldom used O-ringed heads or blocks but Ive used the solid copper gaskets without a single failure without the O-rings many times)

STUDS make oil pan gasket installs easier in some cases
read these links

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=1859&p=4869&hilit=gasket+copper+exhaust#p4869

http://www.scegaskets.com/products/procopphd.html

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=827&p=6153&hilit=copper#p6153

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=2681&p=6950&hilit=anode#p6950

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=74&p=4123&hilit=anode#p4123