David:
Our Triumph TR4 engines use wet liners which stand proud of the deck
by about .003-.005. I suppose there are several advantages for copper
gaskets-
1)asbestos free.
2)heat is transferred through solid copper better than a copper sandwhich
gasket.
3)99.96% copper and .04% oxygen copper is very suitable for head gasket
material and in the annealed state deforms very slightly under direct
pressure from torquing down the head. Though I have not measured it after
the head is torqued- the compressed thickness should not be that much
different than in the uncompressed state possibly .oo1-.002 (these are only
guesses). Sandwiched gaskets, on the other hand, are ment to be compressed
and can have burn out in thin areas especially in high compression heads.
4)Solid copper gaskets live longer and potentially could be reused after
cleaning and re-annealing.
5)Solid copper gaskets can be costumized for your specific needs including
oblate bore size.
6)Solid copper gaskets can assist in better coolant flow through the head.
I have made these gaskets in .020, .032 and .040 thicknesses.
BTW -I'm always looking to learn more about the subject- if you have recs let
me know.
Mordy Dunst
Gasket Works
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: piston to head
Author: dlaver@morgan.com (David Laver) at INTERNET
Date: 9/12/96 11:29 AM
> BTW if your going to build a "meaner" engine you'll need a solid copper head
> gasket -which I sell for (believe this) -$40.00 plus shipping(about $5.00).
What are the advantages ?
I'm tuning a Lancia Aprilia engine. This is a narrow angle V4 with one head
casting for all 4 cylinders. This is of cast iron and square. The block is
alloy with wet liners, the head seals against the tops of the liners and the
perimeter of the block with very little support in the middle.
Options :
Standard.
Wire in grooves to cut into the conventional gasget.
Solid copper. What grade and thickness ?
Rings. We might need these to be oval as each cylinder is at an angle
to the head.
Any advice ?
David Laver
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