head gasket
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,903
Likes: 834
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
head gasket
getting ready to put aluminum heads on. i would like to use the .015 thickness fel-pro gasket i think it has a rubber coating , will this work o.k? on the old gaskets we used copper coat, is anything like that necessary or advisable ? aluminum heads like to move around a bit so maybe a different gasket would be more durable. any input would relieve some worry.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Graphite.
Look for a thin gasket with graphite on at least the head surface. Graphite allows the aluminum to move around at different rate than the iron block. I don't know myself of a good but thin graphite gasket for the first gen blocks.
FTW i talked with Felpro over the phone years ago and they said the rubber coated gasket will work with aluminum heads but i have read of leaking gaskets right here on this forum.
Good luck,
cardo0
FTW i talked with Felpro over the phone years ago and they said the rubber coated gasket will work with aluminum heads but i have read of leaking gaskets right here on this forum.
Good luck,
cardo0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
What I am planning to do, is use a piece of glass about 2" thick, and long and wide enough to cover the head mating surface, with 80 grit sandpaper, then finish up with 180 grit. A handful of grease in each cylinder and grease and rags in the lifter valley should keep the grit out of the engine. Some will get into the water jacket, but I can't think of any way around that. From my research, I have learned that 180 grit sandpaper will provide the optimum finish for using the 1094 gaskets. I'm having the heads milled, and I will instruct the machine shop to mill them in such a way that they also have the proper finish. I know, the "sanding the deck in the car" thing sounds pretty wacky, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Scott
Scott
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
What I am planning to do, is use a piece of glass about 2" thick, and long and wide enough to cover the head mating surface, with 80 grit sandpaper, then finish up with 180 grit. A handful of grease in each cylinder and grease and rags in the lifter valley should keep the grit out of the engine. Some will get into the water jacket, but I can't think of any way around that. From my research, I have learned that 180 grit sandpaper will provide the optimum finish for using the 1094 gaskets. I'm having the heads milled, and I will instruct the machine shop to mill them in such a way that they also have the proper finish. I know, the "sanding the deck in the car" thing sounds pretty wacky, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Scott
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,316
Likes: 111
From: St Louis MO
Very important...
Know what your piston deck height is. If the piston deck height is, for example only .005" down in the hole, usage of the thin .016" FelPro gasket will create insufficient piston to head clearance! The clearance should be .035" minimum (deck height plus gasket thickness). For example, with a stock deck height of .025, usage of a stock steel shim gasket at .015" gave a clearance of .040". Also, don't use a gasket too thick, as the quench height (piston-to-head) should be .035 to .050" for creating turbulence to improve knock resistance.
Know what your piston deck height is. If the piston deck height is, for example only .005" down in the hole, usage of the thin .016" FelPro gasket will create insufficient piston to head clearance! The clearance should be .035" minimum (deck height plus gasket thickness). For example, with a stock deck height of .025, usage of a stock steel shim gasket at .015" gave a clearance of .040". Also, don't use a gasket too thick, as the quench height (piston-to-head) should be .035 to .050" for creating turbulence to improve knock resistance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 90
From: Sacramento California
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
I used the .015 on my AFR aluminum heads.....sanded the block in the car. I have no issues, and up to 1000 miles so far.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Scott
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 62
From: Kona Hawaii
Used the 1094 Fel Pro on my L48 with Edelbrock heads.Wanted the best quench and highest CR I could get.No issues in six months.Installed a Crane 119821 billet hyd roller cam.Nice power upgrade with the changes...As mention check your piston deck height.Mine was stock at .025 and with the .015 gasket, quench will be .040.