The question - my 8BA is bored .040 over. FelPro offers head gaskets for std bore (3.27") and for overbore (3.42"). The std bore gaskets (#7625B and #7626B) are available at the local parts house and FelPro directly and are $15 each. The overbore gaskets (#7625B-1 and #7626B-1) are special order, $38 each, and I may have to pay shipping. Big question - will the std gasket work with my .040 motor? Glenn Hayes (FelPro tech, HAMBer) has been a big help, but he's on vacation. FelPro 1-800 line wouldn't answer the question nor explain why the overbore are 3x the price of the std bore (both are composite - not copper). Tech guy speculates that the overbore are prolly low-demand items, but I can't imagine many 8BA's out there that have not been bored at least .040 over...?! To make matters worse, the std bore gaskets are available in sets with a price break - overbores are not! Anyone been thru this...?
Standards are made to accomodate "normal" overbore, that is atleast 060 or 080 or so. That 3.27 is a bit beyond 080. Overbore here means hot rod overbores beyond normal factory piston offerings, like the hot rod standard sizes 3 5/16-3 3/8-3 7/16.
Thanks - that's the quick answer I was looking for. It's a shame the FelPro tech guy didn't know how to answer. Local parts house will have them this afternoon!
Damn this is frustrating. Got the 'head set' gaskets (#HS7625B) since I needed both head gaskets. I purposely avoided the 'full set' (#FS7625B) since I didn't need the intake, thermostat, and other gaskets because I'd gotten them seperately. $40 later I open the box... every damn gasket I woulda needed is in there! Intake, exhaust, thermostat, head, etc... Why don't the web sites and tech books tell a brother what's up before he throws his money away..?! On the lighter side, when I picked them up, the kids behind the counter at O'Reilly told me that this set included valve cover gaskets.