Copper head gaskets

6

66miles

Senior Member
I'm about to pull the heads off my old flattie to check that I've got no sticking valves. Found a good-lookin pair of copper head gaskets in a bunch of stuff out back. Is there a way of tellin if they're OK or should I just bolt em in and do the usual checks? They both look real good. Can they be refittted? Any one know about these gaskets?
 
Will I be able to see if those suckers are closing hard down by lookin in the lifter galley? What if a valve or 2 is sitting just a few thou off the seat cos it's sticking in the guide? This motor has likely sat quite a while before I first ran it.
 
Guy said to lift the heads and wind her over by hand then go over each valve that should be closed and give it a gentle tap with a hammer. He said if it is sittin up even a bit, I will here it "tap" back down as it hits the seat.
 
Me, i would start with a compresson check, if all cylinder read within #5 then you dont have any sticking valves, run two checks, one with dry cylinders, then squirt some oil in the cylinders and check again, if any major difference in the reading you most likly have worn rings, check with the spark plugs removed, now back to the other part of your question, copper gaskets can be reused in an emergency, but not recomended for every day use
 
ford3 said:
Me, i would start with a compresson check, if all cylinder read within #5 then you dont have any sticking valves, run two checks, one with dry cylinders, then squirt some oil in the cylinders and check again, if any major difference in the reading you most likly have worn rings, check with the spark plugs removed, now back to the other part of your question, copper gaskets can be reused in an emergency, but not recomended for every day use
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Some good common sense advice:cool:
 
You said you had it running? How did it run? Did it idle and accelerate or skip, smoke, rattle, fart and bang?....Mark
 
Idles OK since I leaned the carb out to stop the plugs fouling (I'm after a rebuilt carb right now). Runs and accelerates not too bad for a tired/unknown motor I guess. Under load such as a hill-climb she rattles, farts, n bangs a bit. Compressions are 65 70 70 75 75 75 75 80. Could a bad carb cause these symptoms too?
 
Just keep driving it. It will get better with use.
The hesitation on grades is probably weak ignition on the ht side.

Mart.
 
I've been using copper head gaskets over many times. Just spray then with copper coat, torque to 45# and go on your way.
 
Thanks a bunch guys. As always for every dumb question (I've got quite a collection of them), there seems an endless supply of good old common sense! Miles.
 
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