[Fot] Best Head Gasket

[Bob Kramer]

I read a couple of people talking about milling the block deck.  I have
seen two blocks that were milled, one on a club member's car that had head
gasket issues and another on a block I was checking to build a race engine.
No doubt that both had been milled with the block flat on the milling
table. With liners in place, boring plate installed, the deck surface was
off by 2 thousands side to side. Not very head gasket friendly. I did some
measuring and realized that the figure 8 surface was also off by the same
amount. Both could have been the result of sloppy machine work but I came
to the conclusion that the factory block deck and figure eight machining
was done at the same time. I haven't yet decked a block but if I did I
would measure the figure 8 surface relative to the deck first. YMMV.

Bob Kramer


On Sat, Aug 1, 2020 at 4:51 AM Phil Gott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:

> Michael;
> It is also critical that the liners protrude above the block by .005 to
> .007” to ensure a good seal. This is before any compression of the figure 8
> gaskets.  If the protrusion is less, the top of the block should be milled
> to achieve the proper protrusion.
> If you have milled the head more than about .060 you should consider
> staking the head around the bores between cylinders two and three per the
> Kastner book. It is weak in this area.
> The rest of the advice you’ve received is pretty sound, but I have not
> tried all of it.
> Depending on how much you’ve milled the head and what you have done with
> the combustion chambers, you may need to reshape the fire ring area of your
> gasket. It must not protrude at all into the combustion chamber.
> Phil
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jul 31, 2020, at 6:25 PM, Jack Wheeler via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
> wrote:
>
> 
> I've read all of the comments, but haven't heard anything about Cometic.
> I had rebuilt my TR-3 engine a number of years ago, using the stock head
> gasket.  I built the engine as I would have built one of my race engines in
> the day, except with a milder cam and less compression (10.5:1).  From day
> 1 it never really ran right.  I began to suspect coolant was getting into
> the combustion chamber, so I bought one of those test kits where you pull
> some coolant out while the engine is running and add a chemical which tests
> for hydrocarbons.  Sure enough, hydrocarbons were getting into my coolant
> system.  That says bad head gasket or crack in the head.  Since I'd had the
> head magnafluxed during the rebuild, I assumed it was the head gasket.
>
> I began asking around about where I could get a good gasket.  A guy at a
> local engine shop (primarily Ford engines) recommended Cometic.  I had
> never heard of them, and told him the engine was over 50 years old, so
> surely they would not make a gasket for it.  He encouraged me to check the
> internet, and sure enough, they make a whole bunch of them for the TR
> engine.  It's been a few years ago, but as I recall, they had gaskets for
> different bores (i.e. 83MM, 86MM, 87MM, etc.) and you could order different
> thicknesses.  They stacked steel gaskets on top of each other to get to the
> thickness desired.  I think I ordered a 3 layer gasket.  It all sounded a
> little fishy, but based on the strong recommendation I had received, I
> ordered one.
>
> I removed the bad head gasket and replaced it with the Cometic gasket, and
> suddenly the engine ran great.  I have put almost 7.000 miles on the car
> since then and haven't had a problem.  It runs cool (even on 95 degree
> days, as tested recently), pulls strong, and no sign of any coolant leaks.
> By the way, I noticed someone else recommended Hylomar gasket cement.  I
> also used that.  A light coat on all sealing surfaces does the trick.  Do
> not spray a thick coat.  Below is the link to the Cometic web site.  Check
> it out.
>
> Cometic Gasket - Sealed Under Extreme Pressure <https://www.cometic.com/>
>
> Cometic Gasket - Sealed Under Extreme Pressure
>
> Cometic Gasket supplies hi-performance gaskets for a variety of
> motorsports markets: ATV, Drag Race, Domestic Au...
> <https://www.cometic.com/>
> Jack
>
>
>
>
>
> On Friday, July 31, 2020, 5:27:49 PM EDT, mleccese1--- via Fot <
> fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
>
> Phil, Dave,
>
> I may have compromised my head gasket last weekend at Lime Rock (Green TR4
> #802), can you or someone recommend one that is robust.
>
> Thank you
> Michael L
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