Head gasket .Which way

[deuce lover]

36, 21 stud.What side to the block? first from the left or second pic. I have orig alumunium heads.

 

[rockfla]

Okay Sheldon, I'll be first to be wrong...Lol....I've always done left to the head, right to the block.

 

[petehoovie]

I agree with 'rockfla'....I always put the side with the most exposed metal to the block...
This, on the engine in my '34 E/W aluminum heads....

This side to the block>

 

[Aarongriffey]

But there were Cadillacs that you had to put one on opposit the other.
When there is a choice, like Fords, I do it like the guys above do it.
If it made any difference wouldn’t the manufacturer give instructions?

 

[fourfords]

You mentioned Aluminum Heads. When I bought heads for my '33 from Kearney Foundry, they would NOT sell them to me if I used metal head gaskets. -Electrolysis. Only composite.

 

[KiWinUS]

Sheldon I to are with the others but as Aaron noted I to have seen many engines/ gasket sets over the years where one went one way & the other side had to be opposite. Right wrong or otherwise never a problem. Cheers. Tony

 

[Will D]

Just throwing this out there, without knowing too much about it...

Could it be that on these other engines requiring one gasket one way and the other the opposite way, it is to do with coolant flow? As the flathead cools each side independently, they don't need to be installed opposite??

 

[deuce lover]

double post

 

[deuce lover]

Thanks guys!The NORS copper head gaskets on my very very low mileage rebuild motor were seeping even after spraying them with Hylomar so my Flathead engine guy in AZ recommended these Graphite by "Best"I have this German Dirko sealant for around the water jacket holes.I guess like the old Brylcream- a little dab will do ya.How many of you remember that?

 

[rockfla]

Thanks guys!The NORS copper head gaskets on my very very low mileage rebuild motor were seeping even after spraying them with Hylomar so my Flathead engine guy in AZ recommended these Graphite by "Best".

Sheldon
The "Best" gaskets are what I used on the 39 Merc recently!!! As you can see I used spray copper coat (note my cardboard cylinder plugs) on both sides of the gasket, the block and the head. Worked perfectly!!! I also put a thin coating of Anti Seize on the studs from the end of the threads down to the block too, hopefully making any head removal way "Easier" the next time!!!!

 

[deuce lover]

Can't get copper coat here or don't know where to get it. Not easy in France .A contact in Germany mentioned the Dirko.

 

[David J]

Something to mention is the oldest FORD gaskets had different size coolant passage holes front and rear .
This was to help even out the flow of coolant .
Smaller holes towards the front .

Being there was just one type gasket you ended up having one metal up and the other metal down .

Kinda tells me Ford didn't care what side was up or down .

 

[35fordtn]

Sheldon we sell a Ton of Graphtite Best gaskets and I have used at least 20 sets and have found no issue with installing them either way. However with that said Roy at Best gasket recommends as the guys above have mentioned. He also Recommends using copper spray, even though I use them dry.

Ironically I have a set to install on a engine tonight.

 

[deuce lover]

Thank you Michael ! Can't get copper coat here so going dry with the thin bead of Dirko silicone around each water jacket hole on both sides of the gasket.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

At least with the cast iron heads, you are bolting two pieces of cast iron together with a gasket in between them. How could it matter which way the gasket goes? Gravity can't be an issue, what else could there be? A leak is going to be the same problem in either direction.
Aluminum heads would be a different situation.

 

[flatjack9]

Sheldon we sell a Ton of Graphtite Best gaskets and I have used at least 20 sets and have found no issue with installing them either way. However with that said Roy at Best gasket recommends as the guys above have mentioned. He also Recommends using copper spray, even though I use them dry.

Ironically I have a set to install on a engine tonight.

I always install head gaskets dry.

 

[rockfla]

At least with the cast iron heads, you are bolting two pieces of cast iron together with a gasket in between them. How could it matter which way the gasket goes? Gravity can't be an issue, what else could there be? A leak is going to be the same problem in either direction.
Aluminum heads would be a different situation.

Jim

I'll take a "stab" at a "theory" I have and it's based on my daily experience with gaskets and gasket material I sell in the Industrial field. I "would think" OR my rational IS, with the metal trimming toward the block It is closer OR facing the area where "spark/explosion" happens THUS it is the first to face the "hottest" temperature SO having steel closest to the hottest temperature "MAYBE" handles the hot temperature better than the graphite material???? Just my twisted logic!!!

 

[bobH]

Sheldon, curiosity here.. do you have another project? Or, is this going in your tudor?
And, if you want Copper Coat (or any other us product), just ask. Always willing to help you.

 

[rockfla]

Sheldon, curiosity here.. do you have another project? Or, is this going in your tudor?
And, if you want Copper Coat (or any other us product), just ask. Always willing to help you.

X2 on the HELP part, Sheldon. Anytime!!!

 

[Lawrie]

I too use the best gaskets graphite ones,BUT if you have to remove the heads ,most times I need to factory puller, and to clean up the block surface is a pain, .I block all the water passages with rag to stop the old scraped off gasket going down into the block water jacket.
I had no graphite ones on hand so I used the copper ones with the new alloy heads,with a generous coating of copper coat on both sides.
engine sounds and goes good, so time will tell if I made the right choice.
I have ordered new graphite one anyway.
Lawrie