The Ford Barn

Joe KCMO · 01-15-2012, 10:11 PM

I searched the archives and read different facts about different types of gaskets. But could not find what I really wanted. What would the Barn say is the best type of gasket for a stock flathead ford with iron heads?

Russ/40 · 01-15-2012, 10:53 PM

Composit material

wga · 01-15-2012, 11:33 PM

Best Gasket - specify your bore size when you order. http://bestgasket.com/ http://bestgasket.com/engine_catalog...e=Ford-Mercury

Joe KCMO · 01-15-2012, 11:46 PM

I was more interested in type and why and then where to buy.

Brian · 01-15-2012, 11:59 PM

I'll differ and say copper asbestos if running iron heads. And Best make them in that style and are the 'best'. Brian

wga · 01-16-2012, 01:35 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have used both, prefer the composite, they seal just fine. Copper - asbestos?
Asbestos was outlawed 20+ years ago. As long as the surfaces are clean, smooth,
etc. Thread holes cleaned, head surface is flat, and the usual assembly procedures
are followed, either should work just fine. Chocolate or vanilla?
H&H use copper, and their quality is excellent.

ford1 · 01-16-2012, 01:54 PM

i use copper, as long as the block and heads are straight they hold exlnt, and in a pinch they can be used again, ive found with composit if you get a little water weep from the head bolts the water softens the composit material and causes it to fail, and besides its a pain trying to scrape the composit material off the block around the head studs, but like every thing else, use what works for you

hombres ruin · 01-16-2012, 10:40 PM

copper all the way

Kahuna · 01-17-2012, 12:17 AM

Copper

Ol' Ron · 01-17-2012, 11:28 AM

Me too.

ford1 · 01-17-2012, 11:34 AM

Hey, Ol' Ron says copper, enough said

deuce_roadster · 01-17-2012, 05:49 PM

If you enjoy retorquing your heads all the time go with copper, if you only want to do it once use composite. I have a fair amount of experience with both.

rlsmith337 · 01-17-2012, 07:34 PM

Ol Ron and Speedy Bill said copper so that is what I will use on mine.

quickchange34 · 01-17-2012, 10:33 PM

I have been using Best gaskets since they came out. They are composite. They work great. I build alot of flatheads with blowers, never had a problem . One retourqe and you are finished. Copper does not seal as well. If you have a stud thats leaks you can see the water run out between the two sheets of copper.

Ol' Ron · 01-18-2012, 10:07 AM

OK now! The reason I use Copper head gaskets is: 50 years ago they were the only big bore gasket available, I reause them dozens of times, they never leak, and last but not least. I don't know any better. There may be better gaskets available, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Gumpy · 01-18-2012, 10:10 AM

I had a friend of mine recommend felpro for sealing....

ford1 · 01-18-2012, 11:05 AM

ol'ron, same here, and i got tired of spending hours and cutting my fingers and knuckles cleaning the stuck on material from around the head studs on the older v/8's, its hard enough getting the head off the studs with out fighting the stuck on crap from the composition gasket material, i guess the composition gasket would be alright on a later v/8

TomO · 01-18-2012, 11:10 AM

I like the FelPro composite, but then I don't take the heads off once I put the engine together.

Russ/40 · 01-18-2012, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomO

I like the FelPro composite, but then I don't take the heads off once I put the engine together.

That's my thinking too. I don't intend to have to pull the heads ever, after a rebuild. I don't think I'll live long enough to wear out my rebuilds.

Capn John · 01-18-2012, 03:08 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but COPPER has a chemical reaction problem with aluminum while Feltpro, etc doesn't.

01-15-2012, 10:11 PM	#1
Joe KCMO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 423	Head Gasket Selection I searched the archives and read different facts about different types of gaskets. But could not find what I really wanted. What would the Barn say is the best type of gasket for a stock flathead ford with iron heads?

01-15-2012, 10:53 PM	#2
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: Head Gasket Selection Composit material

01-15-2012, 11:33 PM	#3
wga Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 900	Re: Head Gasket Selection Best Gasket - specify your bore size when you order. http://bestgasket.com/ http://bestgasket.com/engine_catalog...e=Ford-Mercury __________________ Henry Ford designed the flathead without the aid of a computer.

01-15-2012, 11:46 PM	#4
Joe KCMO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 423	Re: Head Gasket Selection I was more interested in type and why and then where to buy.

01-15-2012, 11:59 PM	#5
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: Head Gasket Selection I'll differ and say copper asbestos if running iron heads. And Best make them in that style and are the 'best'. Brian

01-16-2012, 01:35 PM	#6
wga Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 900	Re: Head Gasket Selection Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have used both, prefer the composite, they seal just fine. Copper - asbestos? Asbestos was outlawed 20+ years ago. As long as the surfaces are clean, smooth, etc. Thread holes cleaned, head surface is flat, and the usual assembly procedures are followed, either should work just fine. Chocolate or vanilla? H&H use copper, and their quality is excellent. __________________ Henry Ford designed the flathead without the aid of a computer.

01-16-2012, 01:54 PM	#7
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Head Gasket Selection i use copper, as long as the block and heads are straight they hold exlnt, and in a pinch they can be used again, ive found with composit if you get a little water weep from the head bolts the water softens the composit material and causes it to fail, and besides its a pain trying to scrape the composit material off the block around the head studs, but like every thing else, use what works for you Last edited by ford1; 01-17-2012 at 11:32 AM.

01-16-2012, 10:40 PM	#8
hombres ruin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: san diego Posts: 518	Re: Head Gasket Selection copper all the way __________________ "I have built my organisation on fear"..Al Capone.

01-17-2012, 12:17 AM	#9
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Head Gasket Selection Copper

01-17-2012, 11:28 AM	#10
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Head Gasket Selection Me too.

01-17-2012, 11:34 AM	#11
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Head Gasket Selection Hey, Ol' Ron says copper, enough said

01-17-2012, 05:49 PM	#12
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Head Gasket Selection If you enjoy retorquing your heads all the time go with copper, if you only want to do it once use composite. I have a fair amount of experience with both.

01-17-2012, 07:34 PM	#13
rlsmith337 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	Re: Head Gasket Selection Ol Ron and Speedy Bill said copper so that is what I will use on mine.

01-17-2012, 10:33 PM	#14
quickchange34 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: charlottesville, Va. Posts: 589	Re: Head Gasket Selection I have been using Best gaskets since they came out. They are composite. They work great. I build alot of flatheads with blowers, never had a problem . One retourqe and you are finished. Copper does not seal as well. If you have a stud thats leaks you can see the water run out between the two sheets of copper.

01-18-2012, 10:07 AM	#15
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Head Gasket Selection OK now! The reason I use Copper head gaskets is: 50 years ago they were the only big bore gasket available, I reause them dozens of times, they never leak, and last but not least. I don't know any better. There may be better gaskets available, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

01-18-2012, 10:10 AM	#16
Gumpy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sf bay area Posts: 1,464	Re: Head Gasket Selection *I had a friend of mine recommend felpro for sealing....*

01-18-2012, 11:05 AM	#17
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Head Gasket Selection ol'ron, same here, and i got tired of spending hours and cutting my fingers and knuckles cleaning the stuck on material from around the head studs on the older v/8's, its hard enough getting the head off the studs with out fighting the stuck on crap from the composition gasket material, i guess the composition gasket would be alright on a later v/8

01-18-2012, 11:10 AM	#18
TomO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 362	Re: Head Gasket Selection I like the FelPro composite, but then I don't take the heads off once I put the engine together. __________________ TomO

01-18-2012, 03:08 PM	#20
Capn John Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: BIRTHPLACE OF SPEED, FLORIDA Posts: 531	Re: Head Gasket Selection Correct me if I'm wrong, but COPPER has a chemical reaction problem with aluminum while Feltpro, etc doesn't.