Whats the proper head gasket for a 454?? Cant match water jacket holes!
 

Im putting together a 454, bored .060, with stock 241 heads. The gaskets that came off the old engine were later style that were 'engineered' to fit. (See pic....I DIDNT build it)

None of the gaskets I can find seem to match up with the water jacket holes. The Felpro number all the local parts guys come up with seems to have SMALL holes on top and **NO** openings at the bottom. Do all of the water holes need to be exposed? Am I missing something? You can see in my picture where the previous builder wallowed out the gasket (under my hand) Attachment 48369285

You have to add the lower coolant holes for your block.

http://static.summitracing.com/globa...f/fel-1012.pdf

I guess Im still confused. Using the referenced Summit diagram, my block looks like 'Figure 1". My heads also have water holes at 1,2,3.
The summit article says 'any' BB gasket will work for a 3 hole block.....but the water passages dont line up????

The Fel-pro data sheet states there are two coolant hole configurations for the BBC. Use 8523PT for the blocks having the three extra holes, and use 8180PT for those not having the extra holes.

Im pretty sure I took off a 8523PT1. The 3rd hole in the gasket doesnt line up over the hole in the block. The previous builder cut the gasket? (As seen in the picture) Is the gasket supposed to offset the hole (and not be modified??)

what's the casting number on the block? Do the holes in the gasket line up with the block?

I dont have the casting number at hand as Im chained to my desk at work... :(

If you look at the Summit article in this thread, take a look at 'hole 3' in the first picture. Can you see how it is not running parallel with holes 1 and 2? My block looks exactly like that. However, the holes in the gasket ARE parallel and dont line up over hole 3.

Agree. The upper small holes are common to regulate coolant flow. No problem here. Sounds like a good solution is to get the gasket without the lower holes and punch new ones to match. I think this would be better than hogging out a different one. Make sure they match both heads and block.
Sounds like with the evolution of blocks/heads, Fel Pro simplified their catalog and make some generic gaskets that will "work" with adjustments, but are not necessesarilly "correct.

It looks like the gasket was modified to fit the hole in the block. The "number one" holes in the block and the head don't line up. The hole in the block is a little longer "outboard" than in the head. See pictures:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...92ef1f403c.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2f8e8af66a.jpg

I didn't modify the gasket since it fits the hole(s) in the head so I don't see how it would make a difference.

After some research, I just went with the 8523 gasket. You can see how the gasket and hole dont really line up. I assume this is done for a reason?? 10 million Felpro gaskets out there, Im sure if this was a issue they would have corrected it. So, Im guessing to just leave it be and NOT cut open the gasket to match the hole in the block??
Attachment 48369265

What year block do you have? I think that gasket is for the later parallel flow engines?

My block is a 73 (doesn't have holes 2 and 3 in the explanation above), Brodix Race-Rite oval heads and Cometic C5330 gaskets.

I'm no expert so hopefully one who is will chime in with an explanation.

Edit: I just looked at your other post with a picture of your new short block, it looks like you do have the later type block? Then that gasket should be right.

Scott,

The block is a later style one with the short distributor tower.