Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

General engine tech -- Drag Racing to Circle Track

Moderator: Team

Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby loudandproud » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:13 pm

Checked the motor tonight and Im finding the block hasnt been decked... .024" in the hole.
Im looking for about 11:1 with my ProTru flat tops (5.4cc reliefs)

To do that id need a .017ish head gasket...

I know they make steel shim gaskets this size, but do they make anything that is ok for aluminum heads?

The only thing i found that i THINK will work are these FELPRO 1094 coated gaskets. Cant find any "for sure" info if they are good for aluminum heads. Anyone wanna chime in?
"Buying parts I dont need, with money that I dont have, to impress people that I dont know".
User avatar
loudandproud
Member
Member
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby BlitzA64 » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:32 pm

I have used the standard steel shim gaskets with copper coat as well as the rubber coated steel shim from fel pro with Brodix Heads on an iron block at 13/1 compression with head studs. I didn't have a problem, not to guarantee results.....
BlitzA64
Pro
Pro
 
Posts: 397
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:49 pm

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby loudandproud » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:36 pm

fair enough... did you ever pull the heads back of? If so where there any signs of "brinelling"?

Also... 11:1 with 6" rods and a IVC point of 48 ABDC (measured a .050) gives me a DCR of 8.91:1 (according to Silvolites Calculator)
Ive heard of a recommendation of 8.5:1... is 8.91:1 to much for a 3300lb stick car running on 93 octane?
"Buying parts I dont need, with money that I dont have, to impress people that I dont know".
User avatar
loudandproud
Member
Member
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby automotive breath » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:28 pm

loudandproud wrote:The only thing i found that i THINK will work are these FELPRO 1094 coated gaskets. Cant find any "for sure" info if they are good for aluminum heads. Anyone wanna chime in? ...any signs of "brinelling"?


I use felpro 1094 when the piston is down in the bore like yours. They work very well, I see slight brinelling, nothing serious, I feel it helps to seal the gasket.
automotive breath
Guru
Guru
 
Posts: 1492
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:54 pm

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby ProPower engines » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:59 pm

The 1094 gasket would be no worce then a cometic gasket.
since the time and extra work is a major concern here go with the 1094 and use head studs! When you freshen up next season deck the block and surface the heads and get the correct gasket at that time. The 1094 is not really for aluminum heads they were made for iron heads. They will work and they will birnell the heads a bit but the option is disassemble and deck the block or use the 1094 gaskets and do it later.
Real Race Cars Don't Have Doors
ProPower engines
Guru
Guru
 
Posts: 4099
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:16 pm
Location: VICTORIA BC CANADA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby Wolfplace » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:10 am

ProPower engines wrote:The 1094 gasket would be no worce then a cometic gasket.
since the time and extra work is a major concern here go with the 1094 and use head studs! When you freshen up next season deck the block and surface the heads and get the correct gasket at that time. The 1094 is not really for aluminum heads they were made for iron heads. They will work and they will birnell the heads a bit but the option is disassemble and deck the block or use the 1094 gaskets and do it later.


Actually the 1094 will not brinell the heads much if at all & neither do Cometic’s

The Cometic MLS gaskets have really helped solve the issue of having to surface the heads almost every time they came off for us in a couple of cases
Both are very easy on the aluminum heads
The only problem with the 1094 is at 4.100 it won't work with many heads or bigger bores

===EDIT===
Also I should mention that apparently according to a couple of posts on the Team Chevelle forum Felpro has stopped coating the 1094's sometime last year which kind of sucks so you would probably want to use your favorite sealer on them
Mike (Wolfplace)
VISIT US AT
Lewis Racing Engines
Complete 4axis CNC block machining

=======
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."

-----John Wayne-----
User avatar
Wolfplace
Guru
Guru
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:39 pm
Location: Mendocino County, Northern CA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby billet » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:28 am

I agree no issues with the felpro or the GM steel shim gaskets on alum heads and steel blocks, I never used any additional sealer and never had an issue. The GM ones (may not be available any more - don't know) had a silverish coating on them. I always used them if possible by leaving the piston in the hole a little more as this allowed block deck clean up down the road if needed and the steel gaskets are cheap (or used to be).

Note: all heads were SBC Brodix brand heads of different styles up to 14.5 compression
billet
Member
Member
 
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:25 pm

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby BlitzA64 » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:56 am

No mentionable brinelling of the heads from the steel shim gaskets here..........
BlitzA64
Pro
Pro
 
Posts: 397
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:49 pm

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby loudandproud » Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:51 am

sounds good... Im going to check with summit and make sure the 1094's are still coated...
They are advertising them as such... if they show up uncoated they will be sent back.

Im going to check the deck tonight and make sure its FLAT.

What do you all consider acceptable "warp"?
"Buying parts I dont need, with money that I dont have, to impress people that I dont know".
User avatar
loudandproud
Member
Member
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby Wolfplace » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:35 am

loudandproud wrote:sounds good... Im going to check with summit and make sure the 1094's are still coated...
They are advertising them as such... if they show up uncoated they will be sent back.

Im going to check the deck tonight and make sure its FLAT.

What do you all consider acceptable "warp"?


The head being "warped" end to end is not a big deal it will pull down without issue
Low spots or "warpage" between bolts or brinelling & surface finish are far more important especially with shim or MLS gaskets

If the gaskets are not coated just spray them with Hylomar or the Chrysler sealant recommended for MLS & you should be good

Doesn't apply here but many moons ago with cast iron heads we used to spray the shims with aluminum paint & put them on & every shop & GM dealership I knew did the same
Pretty sure it was GM that had a tech bulletin regarding this but it could have been from somewhere else,, 40+years & CRS have taken its toll,,,,, :mrgreen:
Mike (Wolfplace)
VISIT US AT
Lewis Racing Engines
Complete 4axis CNC block machining

=======
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."

-----John Wayne-----
User avatar
Wolfplace
Guru
Guru
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:39 pm
Location: Mendocino County, Northern CA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby loudandproud » Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:20 pm

makes sense... Ill probably hit them with copper coat just to be safe...
"Buying parts I dont need, with money that I dont have, to impress people that I dont know".
User avatar
loudandproud
Member
Member
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby ProPower engines » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:55 pm

Wolfplace wrote:
ProPower engines wrote:The 1094 gasket would be no worce then a cometic gasket.
since the time and extra work is a major concern here go with the 1094 and use head studs! When you freshen up next season deck the block and surface the heads and get the correct gasket at that time. The 1094 is not really for aluminum heads they were made for iron heads. They will work and they will birnell the heads a bit but the option is disassemble and deck the block or use the 1094 gaskets and do it later.


Actually the 1094 will not brinell the heads much if at all & neither do Cometic’s

The Cometic MLS gaskets have really helped solve the issue of having to surface the heads almost every time they came off for us in a couple of cases
Both are very easy on the aluminum heads
The only problem with the 1094 is at 4.100 it won't work with many heads or bigger bores

===EDIT===
Also I should mention that apparently according to a couple of posts on the Team Chevelle forum Felpro has stopped coating the 1094's sometime last year which kind of sucks so you would probably want to use your favorite sealer on them



That's what I was trying to say but the wording I guess is misinterpreted. They both will leave a slight mark but nothing to worriy about is what I was tring to spit out :oops:
PS
Mike
Thanks for the heads up on those gaskets I was able to locate some locally. But in the future I know where to go
Real Race Cars Don't Have Doors
ProPower engines
Guru
Guru
 
Posts: 4099
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:16 pm
Location: VICTORIA BC CANADA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby loudandproud » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:10 pm

checked all the cylinders tonight

all are .024-.025 in the hole... with the exception of #2. Its showing .022 in the hole.

If i go with the 1094 gasket... would you trust at .037" Quench? I dont want it to kiss. This is with Scat ICR Rods, Wiseco Protru's and a Scat 9000 crank. Set up .0047 to .0050 piston to wall.
"Buying parts I dont need, with money that I dont have, to impress people that I dont know".
User avatar
loudandproud
Member
Member
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby Wolfplace » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:17 pm

loudandproud wrote:checked all the cylinders tonight

all are .024-.025 in the hole... with the exception of #2. Its showing .022 in the hole.

If i go with the 1094 gasket... would you trust at .037" Quench? I dont want it to kiss. This is with Scat ICR Rods, Wiseco Protru's and a Scat 9000 crank. Set up .0047 to .0050 piston to wall.


Not a problem at all
Mike (Wolfplace)
VISIT US AT
Lewis Racing Engines
Complete 4axis CNC block machining

=======
"Life is tough.,, Life is even tougher if you're stupid."

-----John Wayne-----
User avatar
Wolfplace
Guru
Guru
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:39 pm
Location: Mendocino County, Northern CA

Re: Do they make a THIN headgasket for aluminum heads.

Postby billet » Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:21 pm

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the GM ones .022 thick if you wanted to go that route.
billet
Member
Member
 
Posts: 140
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:25 pm

Next

Return to Engine Tech

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: 55chev, Bing [Bot], DaveMcLain, exhausted, jdavis, jimhp, nickmckinney and 37 guests