C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

head gaskets

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:34 AM
  #1  
redvtt's Avatar
redvtt
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 36,040
Likes: 4
From: All great change begins at the dinner table Ronald Reagan
Default head gaskets

I'm working with a guy on a 89 Coupe, L98. We're reassembling the top end. He told me the other day that when he installed the heads, he'd used copper gasket sealer on the head gaskets.
I heard you don't do that & I never have, so I don't know what the end result will be. I'm certain the heads would be difficult to remove.
Frankly, I'm leary of the aluminum heads warping since I'll be purchasing the Vette from him.

Have anyone ever done this before?
Did/do the heads mate properly with the block?
Should I replace the gaskets now (before we get too far along with the work) or will this be OK, for now?

BTW, happy 4th of July. Thanks to the vets for your service!
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:41 AM
  #2  
zr1fred's Avatar
zr1fred
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Default

Should be no problem, proper torquing is the most important thing. Why did you have the top end off in the first place?
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:44 AM
  #3  
Corvette Kid's Avatar
Corvette Kid
Large Impressive Member
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Default

If you're talking about something like Permatex's Copper Seal, I wouldn't worry about it. It's not really neccesary in most cases but won't hurt anything. I use it frequently as a little added insurance on older diesel block decks that have some corrosion pitting on them. It works well and will not make the gasket hard to remove, quite the contrary, actually. BTW, these diesels have compression ratios of 16:1 and higher.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:54 AM
  #4  
redvtt's Avatar
redvtt
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 36,040
Likes: 4
From: All great change begins at the dinner table Ronald Reagan
Default

Originally Posted by zr1fred
Should be no problem, proper torquing is the most important thing. Why did you have the top end off in the first place?
He torqued them at 15 ft lb intervals, no problem there. We had discussed torque etiquette, he's informed. I wasn't worried about this, just the gasket sealer with aluminum heads.
The top end was off because he drove it with the manual switch "off", causing it to overheat. He replaced the heads & gaskets as a precaution. The new heads are slightly used, very clean, like new.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 11:55 AM
  #5  
redvtt's Avatar
redvtt
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 36,040
Likes: 4
From: All great change begins at the dinner table Ronald Reagan
Default

Originally Posted by Corvette Kid
If you're talking about something like Permatex's Copper Seal, I wouldn't worry about it. It's not really neccesary in most cases but won't hurt anything. I use it frequently as a little added insurance on older diesel block decks that have some corrosion pitting on them. It works well and will not make the gasket hard to remove, quite the contrary, actually. BTW, these diesels have compression ratios of 16:1 and higher.
I hadn't used Copper Seal before. He swears by it, I do like this product.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 12:16 PM
  #6  
zr1fred's Avatar
zr1fred
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Default

"Manual switch off"? I'm not familiar with that one. Do you mean fan switch?
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 01:13 PM
  #7  
redvtt's Avatar
redvtt
Thread Starter
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 36,040
Likes: 4
From: All great change begins at the dinner table Ronald Reagan
Default

Originally Posted by zr1fred
"Manual switch off"? I'm not familiar with that one. Do you mean fan switch?
Yup. There was a manual switch installed, he didn't know about it. He ran it long enough to blow the head gasket.
I plan to replace the thermal switch (unoperational), get the OEM stuff working properly.

Thanks for the help, guys!!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To head gaskets





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:54 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE