Okay, can I get the great early Hemi HAMB minds together for a minute and talk about Head gaskets... What do you guys run in your Chryslers? Fel-Pro gaskets? "Best Brand" gaskets? Something else? Composite, copper, cardboard and bubble gum? Do you use copper spray or any other sealer designed for head gaskets? Sealer around the water ports? Etc... tell me your theory, techniques, etc.. I'm specifically interested in street motor applications. I've got Best Brand head gaskets and I think I may be having an issue. Forget what I have going on though. I want to hear what YOU people are doing. Okay... go! Thanks! Scooter
Fel-Pro and Perma-Tex Copper spray on both sides. For the few extra bucks that the Fel-Pros cost, it would be cheap insurance at twice the price...
I run Fel-Pro w/o any spray on it. That was my second try. The 1st try was gaskets that were steel with composite on one side only. Sprayed them, but they leaked big time.
Fel-Pro with no spray. Okay! That's good to know. Along the lines of sealer (if/when used), I've heard of people using the gaskets dry as mentioned above with a very small amount of silicone just around the water p***ages. Seems like if your deck and head faces are flat you shouldn't need it, but for those of you who do recommend it (if anyone), wouldn't it add too much thickness or does it even matter at 85-pounds per bolt? Just doesn't seem like a good idea, but I don't know everything about everything so I'm going to throw it out there for discussion. George, out of curiosity, what brand were those steel-composite gaskets you used?
Copper spray=good Silicone=not good idea A silicone type sealer might be o.k. on intake manifold side of heads for water sealing but I can't see it as anything but trouble on the head gasket side. Of course I could be wrong and usually am.
Personally, I use silicone sealer on little or nothing. If it gets behind a bolt in a blind pocket it can and will break a casting, it does not compress! Oil pump rotors don't like the stuff either.... If the decks are flat with the correct surface finish then a spray sealer is adequate. I use CopperCoat or Permatex spray on all head gaskets. My preference for head gaskets are: OEM gaskets (always a great find at the swap meets); Fitzgerald (same great find); Felpro; Best. .
What head gasket is best to use on a '54 331 with 354 pistons? I think a 354 gasket is different some how, and will not work on the 331.
This was my feeling as well. If the mating surfaces are good then little should be needed beyond the head gasket and copper spray. Every now and then I just hear weird stuff that people do and I wonder if they know something I don't or if they're just suffering from some kind of automotive dillusion. I guess the perfect extreme case would be using a pure copper gasket with nothing else. Do they even make copper head gaskets for Hemis? Never bothered to look.
Use the 331 gasket. There is a change in a coolant p***age location in the lower corner of the block and the wrong gasket will leak. Now I expect to hear 50 stories about how it doesn't matter...... .
Page 120 of the Tex Smith Mopar Hot Rod Book (NOT the Hemi book) Shows the difference between the 51-4 gaskets & the 354. Also mentions water leaks & suggests gasket cement to prevent leaks from the 2 coolant holes by the head bolt north of(between) the end cyl & the next one.
COpper heads gaskets for Hemis??? - ABSOLUTELY they still make those. That's what the race guys are using with the "O" ringed heads! On my digger motor I just used the copper spray sealer with Felpro steel shim gaskets - not their coated ones.
Yeah, just never looked for copper. Not something I really need for my application, so I never bothered. Possibly in future motors though! Anyone have a set of 392 Fel-Pro head gaskets handy?? What does the bore measure on the gasket?? I could really use that number!
Scooter it's right around 4.030" curious why you need the number?? BTW I wouldn't expect a huge variation here as the "hole" in the head is approximately 4.00" so making them any bigger don't help much.
Very interesting! That's a new one for me. Is this the stuff you're talking about: http://www.hylomar-usa.com/ I ***ume you're saying no copper spray; use the gasket dry other than the sealer application as mentioned? This is why I started this subject RIGHT HERE! I knew people were doing more than just the "same 'ol, same 'ol". Great information guys!
The Hylomar will not glue gaskets but does a great job of sealing. We use it on our fuel altered and never have leaks. Especially when using the aluminum Donovan blocks to iron heads. I prefer head gaskets dry. Probably will work fine with copper coat as you hope not to take it apart every week. Randy www.bradfordsfiat.com
I'm running olsens gaskets gaskets in my 276 Painted silver just like the 54 desoto service manual says havent ran it yet as for my 331 i have some felpro's from the 60's...
I use felpro with copper spray(street motor), never had a problem.The original gaskets were steel shim type, .020 thick and felpros are .040. had heads shaved .020 to make up the difference.
I thought it might be somthing like that. I don't think it's an issue. Definitely NOT an issue if you're running 331 heads. They have an "edge" of sorts making the combustion chamber "opening" smaller than 4" - and since the pistons are chamfered they won't touch the head gasket even if it's "small". Even if you're running 392 heads I still can't see it being an issue. The difference being so very small (.005 or so per side) - I just can't imagine that could ever be an issue. Now of course all this ***umes you are gonna put the pistons IN before you put the heads gaskets on
YEP! Pistons are in! Just have some leaky gaskets and want to find a better replacement. Wonderful! Thank for the info! Those are the 392's, right?
We use Flatout copper on our Hemi here is there link.You can get any size bore you want and any thickness. We are very happy with their gaskets and never use anything on them. If you use copper you must remember to completely warm the engine and then retorque the head bolts or they will leak. http://www.flatoutgaskets.com/
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