Technical Thicker head gaskets for a 49 flat head, who makes them?

On another thread I acquired a 41 Ford with a 49 Mercury engine install. Had a head gasket problem and when I pulled it it had two sets of head gaskets. Wondered why. Long story short got a good head and went to put it on and the Piston touches the head. I'm sure when the block was sleeved they mailed it too much and the guy that just did my head had to do a few p***es on it so that didn't help . I can force the rotation of the motor around it but it's not good hence the dual head gaskets. I'm sure somebody makes a thicker head gasket or should I just double up stock gaskets like the previous owner did? It's been sleeved back to standard size Pistons if it makes a difference

 

"Cometic". Hold on to your wallet.

I have found it's usually better to fix a problem rather than "Band-Aid" it.

 

I myself would take a sample gasket and get some laser cut in copper material at the thickness you require...being in NZ and the cost of head gaskets down here plus having a competent laser/water cut shop here is why...

 

Yep I'll look into it tonight while loafing around

 

Why not have the combustion chambers milled for clearance? I think I would do a clay clearance test on all cylinders to see what you actually have. Better yet, find a good pair of heads that haven't been screwed up. I don't agree with using two gaskets. Too much chance of a blowout no matter how carefully installed. Are you sure they used the right pistons?

 

Who knows if they use the right Pistons. It's stamped standard but they do come out of the bore about a 1/8 inch. And when I measured the stroke it's 4 in

 

That doesn't sound right. Back in the day, one of the flathead gurus (I think it was Barney Navarro) used to do this and run specially clearanced heads. Do you know the history of the engine? Does it have any other modifications?

 

As far as I know the motor is stock and looks that way. The previous owner bought it in Mexico and brought it over years ago. He said he quit driving it because the driver side water pump went out and that's all he knows and that's all I know. Besides that it ran great when I had it running

 

^^ That is not right. I can't remember exactly; wrong pistons for the 4" stroke I think.

 

That's what I was thinking too they use the wrong Pistons. Perhaps they use just whatever they had to make it go. Maybe tomorrow if I can swing by the shop I can measure the standard Pistons that are in it to see what size they are unless the Ford and Merc share the same bore just different stroke

 

Yuppers, someone put 8 BA pistons in on a Merc crank 1/4 inch extra stroke means that the crank center is 1/8 higher on TDC. Plus 1/8 lower on BDC = 1/4.

 

Same thing a friend ran into with a '39 Ford he bought. Ford pistons, Mercury crankshaft, and stacked head gaskets.

 

Hmmmm so can the stacked gaskets last?

 

I think only if "last" means the last job before it fails. Just spitballing here, aren't 4" stroke pistons fairly easy to get? While not an optimum job to do I'd think you could replace the slugs without pulling the engine. A helper, a pizza, a few beers after, sounds like a great day.

 

Standard size pistons should be the cheapest you can find. A quick hone and fresh rings and it should last your lifetime.

 

Through all of this discussion it hasn't been mentioned but you ARE doing both banks, right?

 

My buddy is rebuilding a hencho in Mexico SBC. The owner could never figure out the rattles after it was installed. My buddy discovered one piston about 10 thousandths undersize, and one about 3 thousandths oversized. All the cylinder bores were the same diameter.

 

My 4.125 stroke flathead with .125 over bore has 4" stroke pistons that say STD on them. Pop up a 1/16th out of the bore. Was a rebuilt engine bought years ago that had a knock they couldn't find. Piston(s) were touching head. I double gasketed it 20 plus years ago and it is still going strong.

Dave

 

Id stack 2 Graph***e or Best Gasket composite gaskets with permatex copper coat spray and call it a day. Also coat the bolts with permatex shellac. Or if you have time buy the cometeq gaskets but the late flathead gaskets often take like a month for the thick custom ones.

With all the work done to that block my guess is the last gasket leak was from someone chasing the head bolt threads and nothing to do with the stacked gaskets. But thats just a guess.

I beat the **** out of flatheads. Stacked head gaskets dont scare me a bit.

 

Only pulled the one side as I could see it bubbling through the filter then spewing after the drive.a pic of the filters and engine and old gaskets

 

Just yank that boat anchor out and put in a SBC like everyone else.

Surprised it hasn't already been said....

 

Sbc last resort. I've got an 8BA lying in wait that I stole a head off to fix this one. And I've also got my 55 Pontiac 287 that was my first motor out of the hot rod with an adapter kit to the Ford trans

 

Back in the early 60's my cousin was given a 47 Mercury engine for his 41 Ford. The Mercury engine had broken a valve and had a mangled valve seat. My cousin took the Mercury and Ford parts from the original engine and put an engine together. Somewhere along the line he mixed up some parts. One piston was hitting the head. It would run, but made a lot of noise. I think he ended up with 3 head gaskets on that cylinder head.

 

Maybe custom copper gaskets.
https://coppergaskets.us/
These days, laser shops that could copy stock gaskets in whatever thickness of cooper you want are all around. Mike

 

Those are definitely the wrong pistons. It's a miracle the whole think is not broken. The top of the piston should be even with the top of the cylinder, not above when all the way up. As mentioned they are Ford 239 CU. in. pistons. The wrist pin location on the Mercury pistons is higher than the Ford to accommodate the extra 1/4" stroke. All other rotating parts are the same and interchangeable. A word to the wise- when you put the heads back on, you would be wise to use Best brand Graf***e gaskets and get rid of the steel or copper ****. Proper torque in the proper order when tightening is a must on these. After you are finished, re-torque 3 times in this order : first time after the engine has been run and is still hot, second and 3rd. time after the engine has been used a while re-torque after is has cooled completely. I think you will experience a pretty bad overheating problem from the amount of rust I can see in those water jackets. Expect chunks to flake off and plug the radiator tubes. Never run straight water in these things. 50/50 anti freeze with a bottle of anti rust compound. Good luck.......................

 

Double gasket or clearance the heads are it, besides breaking into the motor. I'm thinking they went with stock Ford pistons with the Merc crank.....just a guess.

 

Could you have 2 stainless steel spacers water jet cut and then install a regular head gasket on each surface -one on the head and one on the block?

 

Well, I installed Carillo rods in a Duesenberg, engine in the car. I did a topic on it. Way, Waay, WAAY more work than when I pulled the pan on my flatty. Those pistons came out the bottom too. Fun times...

 

I just researched thicker head gaskets in a cometic gasket that I need is $207 but has a wait time of 5 to 6 weeks plus another 5 weeks now plus shipping. I may order it but for now I'm going to double up the head gaskets I have because it will run and I can at least move it around. I'm not going to change the Pistons. If anything I have an 8ba that I can get swapped in easily that's a good runner and then I can mess with the funny merc motor later

 

Well this morning I doubled up the head gaskets and sprayed them with copper coat and put Permatex shellac on the threads of the bolts. Got it all installed and torque down added water and fired it up. Engine got up to Temp and the thermostats opened pretty much the same time. There's no bubbles coming out of the driver side now and the engine is sitting idling at 165 70°. I know it's not the proper fix but the car is now mobile and I can move it around. Going to go take it up the street and back and see what happens. I am going to order the correct head gasket today