head gasket 350 ?
 

I have a 350 which I,m just re-freshing as I,m the one who the bad carbon build up which I posted . It,s a stock L-48 .30 over which I,m just getting ready to put the heads on. I bought some fel pro #1094 head gaskets which says must have a extra smooth surface area. Well I just scraped the old head gasket off really good and feels good . But wondering if I sprayed the gaskets with copper seal stuff is good enough or should I be looking for a different head gasket or am I just over thinking this. I just chose this head gasket because it is .015 thick which is what I want for quench. Engine has been taking apart by me and new bearings and rings, ball honed. Heads taken apart and cleaned and put back together. Everything checks out for so far. Sorry don,t know how other photo got there , I think you can figure out which one

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

On an app like that (decks & heads were not cut), I usually opted for the Felpro perma tork gaskets. That will make the Quench on the outside of the line, but I feel that the seal is more important on a driver. You my talk with some of the other guys.....I beleive i have heard of a .029-.030 gasket, but do not have specs or a link to. Longhorn:chevy:

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

I always use the thinnest shim gaskets because I hate to lose any compression. I haven't been bitten yet. I put some used heads on my 185k mile 350 with shim gaskets and they are still holding. I think I did spray the gasket with something but I don't remember if it was paint or gasket sealer. If I did, it must have been in the instructions somewhere. I guess it's a coin flip but I would gamble.

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

Ok thanks, I will wait abit for more replys. I just hate to do this again, getting old. Those fel pro head gaskets arn,t cheap $100.00 Can. I don,t think a stock L-48 is going to stir up much but just trying to get as little as possible

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

We used silver paint , or copper spray on the shim gaskets in the day.I know that you are thinking right on.....if everything is flat, no issue. And the closer you get the quench to .035/.040, the better that you are. I dont feel that the comp ratio will be that much different......but you can run more timing, with proper quench;) Longhorn:chevy:

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

Seems to be abit of a tie, thanks for the input. Would be nice to have some of the older parts men working , but now all we have here is people just looking to find a job and get a quick lesson on ordering parts. Some are Ok but are into the newer cars. I have to do all the leg work for them on my older stuff to make sure I get the right parts. Anyway I think I will try a .028 or whatever the thinnest composite gasket I can find. No big deal , it,s just a smogger motor. I have my big block in my Blazer.

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

Those old sb chevs (stock pistons ) usually ran .025-.028 down the hole....that stock shim gasket (.015) , set the quench about right on. Then I played with the 5.3 LS..... .051 mls gasket (yikes)! But checking the pistons, they were actaully .008-.009 out of the hole! So the quench is pretty close! You might check into GM performance parts on the gasket, in the .029 range.....I will do a little look & if I find it I will post it up. Longhorn:chevy:

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

We can all agree that you are getting severely shafted on your head gaskets.

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

I have a GM part #....In stock @ Summit racing. Summit # is Nal -10105117, listed as .028 compressed thickness. For useage with no more than a 4 inch bore. They list @ $27.70 ea, & are a GM part. On a composite gasket, that will get you closer than the .041 gaskets on the Felpro line;) Best of fun... Longhorn:chevy:

Re: head gasket 350 ?
 

Well, what is the cost on import to canada? In summit racing, I see $22 ea on the 1094 gaskets. $ 100 on those gaskets is an ouch;) .....but it may be about the import duties& or where they could be found? Longhorn:chevy: