21 stud composite gaskets?

Slick Willy

Slick Willy

Member
Hi guys! Im wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of finding a set of composite (fiber) head gaskets for a '37 center water inlet motor. I picked up a set of nos aluminum heads and had them machined and cleaned. Now Im just having a little problem finding gaskets and not a complete engine set.
Ive read that a composite gasket should be used with aluminum heads but if copper is okay than let me know! any info would be appreciated!
thanks
-Slick
 
You can use a 24 stud gasket with a few mods. Place the 24 stud gasket between two 21 stud heads, bolt them together. Now take a 7/16 rod ground to a flat edge and drive it through the 4 lower holes. now you have a big bore 21 stud gasket.
 
OL'Ron, you never run out of ideas. I never thought of that. I'm building a 37 21 stud right now. It's .125 bore and and the biggest 221 composit gasket I could find was BEST 3.170 bore. I was going to use the composit gasket because it had a steel fire ring. I thought that would better that the copper casket fire ring because it's going into the bore about .008. I'm going to lay a stock 221 gasket on a stock 239 gasket tomorrow and check your idea out. Thanks Ron. Walt
 
Ol' Ron said:
You can use a 24 stud gasket with a few mods. Place the 24 stud gasket between two 21 stud heads, bolt them together. Now take a 7/16 rod ground to a flat edge and drive it through the 4 lower holes. now you have a big bore 21 stud gasket.
Click to expand...

Ron, you never cease to amaze me. I never knew they were that similar.
 
The differance between a hot rodder and a street rodder. We just keep trying things untill it works. Just remember hot rodders started this sport 70 years ago when there wasn't an aftermarket.
When ford went to the 3 3/16 bore it had to remove the lower head bolt and replaced it with 2 slightly lower on the block. all the rest are in the same place.
 
Try auto zone. Had a complete oh set ordered the other day took 2 days and the set was cheaper than macs or any of the magazine co,it was a composit .they called felpro to check on the correct engine . Don p
 
Thanks guys, I will check into the auto zone lead. I know NAPA had no listing for the 221. Thanks for the trick Ron! If all else fails I will go that route.
As far as I know it is still a stock bore, but I wont know til tomorrow.
 
I use BEST brand gaskets on 90% of my engines. I would say there GraftTite gasket is the cat's meowww. They also have copper. The rest of the set are great gaskets, they have the best rear seal on the market. MY MHO. Walt
 
I agree with Walt. The Best gasket is also the thinest, which requires some checking. I use the little aluminum ball trick, for street engines we're using .040-040" piston to head clearance. The tighter the better.
 
Thanks for dealing with the newbie guys! I found the graphtite ones so I will order those up! The heads look great sitting on the block, I cant wait to fire it up:D
 
Willy
Hurry up and get it back together!!
I expect to see those new heads on that engine when the cruises start this year.
If you need something, give me a call.
Jay
 
I know, I know...Im now wondering why I didnt do this in December! But no worries...if all else fails it goes back the way it was!:o
 
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