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RE: (follow up) Blown Head Gasket

To: Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM, mhaynes@ball.com, patrick.elliott@attws.com
Subject: RE: (follow up) Blown Head Gasket
From: Bryan Vandiver <Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 15:32:31 -0700 (PDT)
Cc: spridgets@autox.team.net
Reply-to: Bryan Vandiver <Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM>
Sender: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
Oh well,

$64 was for the complete head 'set' including valve stem seals. The place that 
ordered for me said that it only came in a set...

 - Bryan
 
>To: "'Bryan Vandiver'" <Bryan.Vandiver@eng.sun.com>, mhaynes@ball.com
>Cc: spridgets@autox.team.net
>Subject: RE: (follow up) Blown Head Gasket
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>
>$64????  I bought Napa head gasket for $18 and guess what, it said felpro on
>it.
>Hasn't leaked for about 1500 miles now. 
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bryan Vandiver [mailto:Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM]
>Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 1:41 PM
>To: Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM; mhaynes@ball.com
>Cc: spridgets@autox.team.net
>Subject: RE: (follow up) Blown Head Gasket
>
>
>Mark,
>
>Mark, thanks again for your comments.
>At this point, I'm really skeptical about re-using the copper gasket I first
>
>tried, (even though there are less than 3hrs running time on it). The felpro
>set 
>I ordered ($64) is supposed to be in today. I also thought I'd take this 
>'opportunity' to make some of the mods, that I had asked about in earlier 
>postings (adding PVC, and vac advance) to my intake manifold and dellorto
>while 
>I had them off.
>In any case, it doesn't look like there was any harm done, except for
>getting 
>oil all over my nice clean engine compartment.
>
>Thanks again.
> - Bryan
> 
>>To: "'Bryan Vandiver'" <Bryan.Vandiver@eng.sun.com>
>>Cc: "'spridgets@autox.team.net'" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
>>Subject: RE: (follow up) Blown Head Gasket
>>
>>Brian- The copper doesn't act as a gasket by itself, since it won't deform
>>under the slight (relatively) pressure applied by the Head Bolts, it acts
>>more as a shim and thermal conductor than anything else. The 'thick coat'
>of
>>Copper Coat should, even with 3 coats, be no more than about .005" thick
>(if
>>properly applied). The use of copper coat itself, which contains copper as
>a
>>primary ingredient (hence the name) maintains the thermal transmission
>>capacity of the copper head gasket. Even with a Fel-Pro gasket, I, myself,
>>would still apply 3 coats of Copper Coat. Just my .02
>>Mark Haynes
>>'62 HAN6
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From:       Bryan Vandiver [SMTP:Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM]
>>> Sent:       Thursday, August 19, 1999 11:29 AM
>>> To: spridgets@autox.team.net
>>> Subject:    (follow up) Blown Head Gasket
>>> 
>>> Thanks everyone for all the great feedback!
>>> 
>>> I pulled the head last night, and here's what I found...
>>> 
>>> The gasket didn't really 'blow'. The copper gasket itself appeared to be
>>> in OK 
>>> condition, however it was clear that it failed to seal almost
>>> everywhere!(gives 
>>> a new meaning to the term 'top-oiling' the pistons). It was very clear,
>>> because 
>>> of 'staining on the gasket, that coolant, and oil was not being sealed at
>>> all. 
>>> Pistons 2&3 also appeared to be sharing compression. I'm really surprised
>>> my 
>>> engine was running as well as it was, since I just thought it ran a
>little
>>> 
>>> rougher than it should!
>>> In any case, I pick up the felpro gasket I have on order today. I will
>>> also 
>>> check the head and top of the engine again with a straight edge to see if
>>> they 
>>> should be resurfaced, but if there was a problem there, I would have
>>> expected a 
>>> leak in a specific area.
>>> As far as the 'copper gasket' (made in England) goes... the over whelming
>>> advice 
>>> is to make sure it has about three coats of copper spray gasket sealer on
>>> it 
>>> before using. This to me goes against all logic of what a a copper gasket
>>> is all 
>>> about. 
>>> 
>>> a) if a head 'gasket' doesn't seal without putting a thick coat of gasket
>
>>> sealing material on it, then, that should have been specified when I
>>> bought it.
>>> 
>>> b) the whole reason for using a 'copper' gasket, is to promote a more
>even
>>> 
>>> cooling of the head, but in order for this to work, you need 'direct'
>>> metal to 
>>> metal contact between the copper, and head/engine. 
>>> 
>>> But since you have to do 'a' to make the gasket work, then 'b' is no
>>> longer 
>>> valid - so what's the point???
>>> 
>>> In any case, thanks everyone, and if all goes well, I'll have the bugeye
>>> back on 
>>> the road by Saturday :-
>>> 
>>> BTW - For the Felpro gasket, should both the head and engine, be complete
>>> clean 
>>> and dry before installing, or is a light coat of oil OK???
>>> 
>>>  - Regards,
>>>  Bryan Vandiver (59-bugeye)
>>>  San Jose, CA


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