Okay I've done a little searching but havn't found an answer to my specific question. I am building a ford 59ab cast in 1946. I am running Evans heads and copper headgaskets. Can someone help me understand a few things? 1st being, my copper head gaskets don't seem to have all the water holes? Am I supposed to cut them to match? Whats a good method for this? Next question is the water holes in the Evans heads dont match the block. You can tell by the erosion pattern on the heads that they never did... I am trying to do everything I can to avoid extra cooling issues down the road. Advice would be appreciated. Do I relieve the heads? Just leave em? They ran like that for years... what to do about the gaskets? Thanks guys
Who made the head gasket? If the holes in the gasket don’t match those in the block/head I wouldn’t use it. You might need the mating surface on the head skimmed if it is messed up from corrosion.
I’m pretty sure you’re not meant to use copper head gaskets with alloy heads. Can’t help about the holes, sorry!
No idea who made the gaskets, theyre old, they have very small holes where each water passage is and I am wondering if they didnt cut them out because the merc blocks have different shapes? Really not sure
I have never heard that before. I was always told the reusable copper gaskets were the best. Perhaps I am misremembering. Edit- went and read up. Sounds like tge concern is electrolysis and that is prevented by having a good ground strap block to body
Oliver, Your best bet would be to post your question and photos on Fordbarn. The water passage design for flatheads changed over the years and there is plenty of info. on Fordbarn. Unless my eyes are fooling me, looking at your first photo showing the copper head gasket, it appears the copper gasket you are using on your 59A is meant for a 1949-53 8BA.
And, there is nothing wrong with a copper gasket with aluminum heads. I use spray copper seal or aluminum paint on them. Pulled off later and no corrosion.
Thats a bummer if thats true. Ill try over there. Didnt want to offend anyone with my hot rodderish ways
Blast all the corrosion off the bottom of those heads before you use them. Then you can check the straightness. Don’t worry about pits on the spots where the block hole is bigger. Only about where the gasket should seal against.
You're not offending anyone. Just be sure to read, read and read all the material you find about the differences between pre and post 1949 flathead engines. I had the same copper gaskets on my flatty with aluminum heads since 1999 with no problems. Just be sure to install an anode in your radiator, use high quality coolant and add "No-Rossion". Now days, composite gaskets are popular. Technical - Flathead ford head gaskkets | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)
You do need a good ground strap but it won't do anything to prevent corrosion; fresh modern coolant will however. Lots of old flatheads with alloy heads suffered excessive corrosion back in the days when straight water was the standard coolant. When I disassembled the Merc motor in my '39 coupe (in Honolulu 1964) the aliminum heads were so badly pitted I had to replace them. That was a lot of money for a kid working in a car rental at the time.
I have a C59A (Canadian) engine. My water passages in the block are slightly different in the middle of the block, but this is the Felpro engine gasket kit I purchased.
They came off of a running engine with no leaks. Will definitely clean them and check them up before running em though!
What I read wasnt that it would prevent corrosion but would prevent electrolysis with the copper and aluminum. That was just a handful of guys opinions though
I got my gaskets from some folks in my state who buy and sell and have a massive collection of nos stuff. Theyre good people though and will make it right I'm sure
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