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steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:38 pm
by 6sally6
May pull heads on my 5.0 FoMoCo. Have Fel-Pro head gaskets now. 0.41compressed thickness. Looking at Mr. Gasket steel shim gaskets 0.20 compressed thickness. Anybody use these? Any problems? Don't want to "go-back-and-re-do" later. Copper better?!
Any suggestions?!
Thanx
6sally6

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:38 am
by ProPower engines
USED THEM YEARS AGO PITA.
You will need to insure the block and heads are dead flat stud the block and do a hot retorque if you want them to last.
We used them with comp.up to 11-1 but the bolts just do not clamp enough. Don't think they will hold with NOs.
Even the gaskets you are using now should be rechecked hot but guys rarely do it except when engines are run on dyno

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 2:28 am
by needforspeed66gt
Haven't used them on a SBF, but we use them occasionally on SBC's and Mopar's - good surface on the block and heads, and copper coat the steel shim and I've not seen one leak.

Never tried to use one in a real high HP application, just mild street stuff.

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:15 am
by quickd100
Everyone of the millions of BB Mopars came with steel shim head gaskets from the factory. That also includes the 13.56-1 Max Wedge motors. Personally, I have never blown a steel shim head gasket, and never had a leak with one. I've used them dry, and sprayed down with various agents, they've worked fine both ways. Dave

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:08 am
by dwilliams
If you lift a head with a steel shim gasket, the gasket stays put and the head sits back down, reseals, and everything's fine. I've taken apart motors with carbon tracks on the head surfaces where the heads had lifted in the same spot every time.

With composition gaskets, the gasket gets damaged, and sometimes the fire ring gets pushed back and bent, and then you wind up torching the deck surface.

I run steel shims when I can get them. GM still sells them, updated with a fancy plastic coating I'd just as soon not have, but hey, they're only $8.63 each.

As far as flatness of the block and deck... the embossed steel shims I've used have all been much more forgiving than those Cometic MLS gaskets so many people seem so fond of.

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:23 am
by Koolaid
Had good luck with a set on a SBC.

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:45 am
by Shopboss
I use them often on SBCs,mostly the stainless steel ones. Never used them on a ford. I would worry about the clamping force with less bolts.
I'm not saying it wont work though. I just never had a reason to try. Let us know how it works out for you.

Donny

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:59 am
by Lockwire
6sally6 wrote:May pull heads on my 5.0 FoMoCo. Have Fel-Pro head gaskets now. 0.41compressed thickness. Looking at Mr. Gasket steel shim gaskets 0.20 compressed thickness. Anybody use these? Any problems? Don't want to "go-back-and-re-do" later. Copper better?!
Any suggestions?!
Thanx
6sally6
Watch is case the Bolt or Stud makes the block anthill.

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:00 am
by robert1
I'm pretty sure Cometic will make or has a thin gasket.

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:55 am
by Durney
Used the cheapo Fel-Pro blacks in Super Stock motors for MANY years... never had a problem. Spray hylomar on occasion during freshen-up but thats about it.

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:49 pm
by BlitzA64
I used the cheapie steel shim head gaskets on a 14-1 aluminum head alky SBC. Sprayed them with Copper Coat and never had an issue.......

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:07 pm
by ap72
Can I get the part number for those gm shims for 8 bucks? What's the thickness on those?

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:42 pm
by BrazilianZ28Camaro
Have a good luck with my cheap Felpro shim gasket in my SBC 283.

Just spray it with hi-temp silver paint(should be only silver color) and make sure the head bolt holes are flat with the deck.

This is the .018" felpros:

Image

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:57 pm
by BlitzA64
CV Products has ROL Steel Shims for SBC @ $7+ ea. I think they are .020" but are only for a 4" bore, too small for 4.125.......

Re: steel shim head gaskets.........

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:59 pm
by pdq67
All early SBC's came stock with GM's .020" thick steel shims back then. I've even installed 350" engine .020" thick steel shims on my 406 by mocking her up, reaching up inside and scribing the chamber overhangs and very carefully hand filed removed it in all chambers over by the 2.02" valve side.

As for my hopped up, 409 "W" engine, I've even stacked two per side and sealed them with good old Indianhead!!

Sealer, Aluminum Paint, Coppercote, both spray and dauber bottle, and Indianhead.

I do retorque everything at least twice over two hot/cold cycles and have even done this three times and have never lost one.

You can use a fine straight cut triangle file and very gently go from head-bolt hole to head-bolt hole and feel her clean up and become smooth/flat, BUT this is an old "feelie" deal by me!! Works fine once you get the feel down and watch the decks change from rust/cruddy to shiny metal oh so gently.

pdq67