Head Gaskets

Steve_S

Steve_S

Member
Hi all, I'm rebuilding my first flathead because I can't afford to pay someone else to do it. I'm at the point of refitting the heads but have run into a curiosity. A few of the holes in the head gasket do not match the water passages, etc. Is it common practice to cut away the holes to match the block, or do I have the wrong gasket? Photos attached...
 

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The head gasket is made so that the holes for the water jackets overlap the holes in the head and in the block. Don't cut away any of the gasket material.
 
Are you useing 59AB gaskets on an 8BA engine by any chance? Seems that rear little hole should big like the block. Maybe I'm half asleep, I should go out in the shop and check but it's to late tonight, I'll check tomorrow. Walt
 
It's an 8CM block and heads. What concerns me are the large round holes and bananna-shaped holes (see lower right and center of block in above photos) which have rather small round holes over them. Seems like this would seriously reduce the flow of coolant. Unfortunately I ignored my own advice and threw away the old gaskets before taking the new ones out of the box.
 
They are designed that way for correct water flow through the block and heads, forces more water to the back of engine for cooling, thats what I have been told and sounds right to me.

Vergil
 
Wow, I'm amazed that it's correct! Since the blocked off holes are at the rear of the block it seems like that area would starve for coolant.

Can anyone explain why the holes would be made as large as they are and then be restricted by the head gasket? I'm honestly very interested in learning the thought process behind this design.
 
Steve_S said:
Can anyone explain why the holes would be made as large as they are and then be restricted by the head gasket? I'm honestly very interested in learning the thought process behind this design.
Click to expand...

Possibly to assist in the removal of the casting core sand after the block was cast?

Bob
 
Steve_S said:
Wow, I'm amazed that it's correct! Since the blocked off holes are at the rear of the block it seems like that area would starve for coolant.

Can anyone explain why the holes would be made as large as they are and then be restricted by the head gasket? I'm honestly very interested in learning the thought process behind this design.
Click to expand...
:eek: :eek: You should consider installing the gaskets with the large holes in the REAR :eek: :eek: :eek: Not into later stuff but the idea will be the same . In the 32-36 engine and chassis repair book - V-13 on page 7 under cylinder head gaskets it tells you this . The reason is to get more coolant to flow to the rear areas and if you think about it it is a very good way of doing it :D The gennie 21 stud gaskets are like this and this is referenced in many places . Don't see many of these anymore as all newer ones are generic and the holes are the same front to rear . Ever take a heat gun to a flathead thats been driven for a while ? I think the old type gaskets would help correct this . If you put them on with the small holes in the rear you will have your rear cylinders running way hotter than your fronts . Not a desireable condition . On the big holes in castings blocked off or restricted by the gasket this is common and like someone already stated it probably has to do with the casting process .
 
I dug out an old set of Victor gaskets to have a look. They have the large openings for the rear of the block. A note stamped in between the center cylinders reads " Do Not Enlarge Water Holes". Even the original Ford gaskets were made this way to force a larger flow of water to go to the rear then up into the heads and back forward. This cooled the block and the head more evenly. Still not perfect but better than the earlier motors.

Kerby
 
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