The Ford Barn

fredeuce · 12-11-2021, 01:46 AM

I am about to install the heads on the 8BA rebuild and am curious if the Fel Pro gaskets I am using require sealant?

Not familiar with these so can anyone assist?

deuce lover · 12-11-2021, 01:52 AM

Read this thread. I used copper coat on mine.Some guys use grease and some use nothing.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...+gasket+sealer

Desoto291Hemi · 12-11-2021, 05:47 AM

That is a beautiful gasket .
All the holes that get near fluid already have a seal ring around them .
And the bores have a fire ring .
Extra sealer is not required,,,,but,,,do whatever makes you feel good.

Tommy

19Fordy · 12-11-2021, 10:19 AM

I always use copper spray. I wonder if sealant is used on aircraft engines.

Lawson Cox · 12-11-2021, 10:30 AM

I always just use a good coat of grease. My 2¢

tubman · 12-11-2021, 10:46 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Grease.

Jack E/NJ · 12-11-2021, 10:57 AM

Grease.

Kube · 12-11-2021, 03:03 PM

Copper coat

Jay in Mass · 12-11-2021, 03:04 PM

Grease is good enough. Some day you may want to remove that head.

leon bee · 12-11-2021, 03:06 PM

Grease.

Shoebox · 12-11-2021, 03:57 PM

Just wondering if the previous answers remain the same if one is using aluminum heads??

tubman · 12-11-2021, 04:13 PM

Yes, as far as I am concerned. My mind boggles trying to get it around the galvanic properties of three dissimilar metals.

jimTN · 12-11-2021, 04:29 PM

Copper Coat

DavidG · 12-11-2021, 04:33 PM

Nothing and no leaks, but then I use all copper-over-asbestos head gaskets.

JM 35 Sedan · 12-12-2021, 09:56 AM

I use "BEST Gasket Company" composite head gaskets on my flathead engines, making sure the mating surfaces of the deck and heads are clean, flat, well prepped, and coat the gasket surface with grease. Then torque to specifications, and re-torque as necessary. This has worked well for me, especially if/when it becomes necessary to remove the heads for some reason.

rotorwrench · 12-12-2021, 11:06 AM

Best Gaskets are a relative newcomer to the early Ford community. I've been impressed with the ease of use on the graphite rope seals that they came up with. They provide the same sealing capability with a lot less friction than the old style seals. They also have a good copper/graph-tite/copper sandwich head gasket for V8 engines. The carbon base is a very good replacement for the old asbestos and worlds better than the asbestos replacement materials.

I've used the Copper Coat and just plain old aluminum pigment silver spray paint on them with good results either way. If plain copper is used then it has to be well annealed to get a good crush on initial and any further follow up torque. Most sheet copper gaskets are annealed by the manufacturer or at least we would certainly expect them to be.

Aluminum has always been problematic with dissimilar metal corrosion any time it's used with a dissimilar metal.

12-11-2021, 01:52 AM	#2
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,306	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Read this thread. I used copper coat on mine.Some guys use grease and some use nothing. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...+gasket+sealer

12-11-2021, 05:47 AM	#3
Desoto291Hemi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Carthage , Tennessee Posts: 199	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no That is a beautiful gasket . All the holes that get near fluid already have a seal ring around them . And the bores have a fire ring . Extra sealer is not required,,,,but,,,do whatever makes you feel good. Tommy

12-11-2021, 10:19 AM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,942	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no I always use copper spray. I wonder if sealant is used on aircraft engines.

12-11-2021, 10:30 AM	#5
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no I always just use a good coat of grease. My 2¢ __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

12-11-2021, 10:46 AM	#6
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Grease.

12-11-2021, 10:57 AM	#7
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Grease.

12-11-2021, 03:03 PM	#8
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,007	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Copper coat __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

12-11-2021, 03:04 PM	#9
Jay in Mass Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mass. Posts: 379	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Grease is good enough. Some day you may want to remove that head.

12-11-2021, 03:06 PM	#10
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 611	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Grease.

12-11-2021, 03:57 PM	#11
Shoebox Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Holmen,Wisconsin Posts: 787	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Just wondering if the previous answers remain the same if one is using aluminum heads?? __________________ I went, I saw, I bought the T shirt 51 Ford Deluxe Tudor 32 Ford roadster 39 Mercury Towncar

12-11-2021, 04:13 PM	#12
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Yes, as far as I am concerned. My mind boggles trying to get it around the galvanic properties of three dissimilar metals.

12-11-2021, 04:29 PM	#13
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Copper Coat

12-11-2021, 04:33 PM	#14
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Nothing and no leaks, but then I use all copper-over-asbestos head gaskets.

12-12-2021, 09:56 AM	#15
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no I use "BEST Gasket Company" composite head gaskets on my flathead engines, making sure the mating surfaces of the deck and heads are clean, flat, well prepped, and coat the gasket surface with grease. Then torque to specifications, and re-torque as necessary. This has worked well for me, especially if/when it becomes necessary to remove the heads for some reason. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein* Last edited by JM 35 Sedan; 12-12-2021 at 10:02 AM.

12-12-2021, 11:06 AM	#16
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,432	Re: head gasket sealant yes or no Best Gaskets are a relative newcomer to the early Ford community. I've been impressed with the ease of use on the graphite rope seals that they came up with. They provide the same sealing capability with a lot less friction than the old style seals. They also have a good copper/graph-tite/copper sandwich head gasket for V8 engines. The carbon base is a very good replacement for the old asbestos and worlds better than the asbestos replacement materials. I've used the Copper Coat and just plain old aluminum pigment silver spray paint on them with good results either way. If plain copper is used then it has to be well annealed to get a good crush on initial and any further follow up torque. Most sheet copper gaskets are annealed by the manufacturer or at least we would certainly expect them to be. Aluminum has always been problematic with dissimilar metal corrosion any time it's used with a dissimilar metal.