Thinner or Better Head gaskets than Fel Pro Blue+ Additional Head Q !!

[Olle B]

Just wanna know some Q´s around head gaskets!
I wanna change my intake for a Holley Street D and my original iron cast exhaust for a set of TTI´s.
The engine is totally rebuild with all new inside + KB 162 pistons.
Would you guys take the oppertunity and lift the heads off to watch what happen after last seasons mild street cruising ,,,approx 2000miles?

Would you guys reuse the FelPro Blue?

Would you suggest a better and thinner,,,not copper!! gasket to use instead!

Would you simply change the above mention parts and give the heck what happen below!!

Best Olle

[FASTDARTCHESTER]

Hi Olle,

depends on how much of a gearhead you are, i guess.

if it was me and mild street cruising was all i was doing (and there were no obvious signs of engine self destruction), i would pop the new manifolds on and go.

i would, however, check the torque of the head bolts while everything is apart!

just my $0.02.

[451Mopar]

From the pistons you mentioned, you must have a 383?
I checked to make sure the pistons were not "quench" pistons.
You did not say what cylinder heads you have, but if your using closed chamber heads like the Edelbrock heads you would have to consider how the gasket thickness will affect the "quench" distance. With the stock open chamber heads you should not have a quench problem so thinner gaskets are probbably fine.
The stock OEM gasket was a steel shim of about 0.020" thick. I don't know of a large selection of different manufactures, but the multi-layer gaskets like the felpros will be thicker because of their multi-layer design.

[Olle B]

Yes
The engine is a 383 0.030 over.
Heads are original 906 ported and milled ,,just to make them straight 0.01.
So Its an easy to find part from ex Summit?
Just to ask for a steelshim gasket?
I dont want to O-ring and Ive heard of problem with coppergaskets,
I guess the FelPro is at least 0.03 !?
The main reason I wanna shift is my new cam show up a smaller basecircle than the old one,and together with the FelPro Ive lost all preload on the hydralic lifter!
If I can gain 0.01 and also make an inspect of the pistons and comb chambers for some low gasket cost I sure will go for it!

Hope someone can give me a good manufactors name to use.

Best Olle B

[Mopar_Maniac]

Olle B...

You can order the Mopar steel head gasket direct from a dealership. Part number is P4286754 and it shows compression thickness at 0.020."

Make sure and spray down both sides before install and your set.

Good luck,
Mopar_Maniac

[Olle B]

Thanks
I will place an order at Summit,hope I can get them there!
The "spray" is some kind of liquid sealant?

They will give me the lost preload back and some extra in comp!
Im sure the intake will fit if I drop the fibergaskets.

Best R Olle B

[Mopar_Maniac]

Olle B...

I have used Permatex brand "Copper Spray" for years. I started using this on the advice from the guy who does my machine work and have never had a leak or problem.

I spray both sides...let sit about 10 minutes...then spray...sit another 10 minutes...then one more spray and sit.
I have a couple of 4" nails hanging on a wall in my garage that have overspray all around them.

Make sure and double check your valve to piston clearance if you have a cam with alot of lift as you will be moving your valves closer to the piston tops. You will also be increasing your compression ratio somewhat. Hopefully your engine isn't on the edge as far a detonation is concerned.

Recommended clearance for valve to piston is 0.080"-0.100" for most applications.

Good luck,
Mopar_Maniac

[dirty dan]

Hey olle
I would stay with the felpro blue .
As they are a good sealing gasket and require no sealent.
If you require more preload on your lifters,Why not pull the heads .
Have them resurfaced to the correct dimentions for your engine.
In the mean time you can have a look at the rest while the heads are off.