Best graphite thickness

Talkwrench

Talkwrench

Well-known member
Hi guys sent an email to Best but I don't think they'll get back too me quick. Does anyone know the compressed thickness of their graphtite 507 head gaskets? Also any prep for them on install?
 
Rob, I can't answer your question...these things disintegrate upon removing the head....That is why, when I build an engine, i fit the heads with no gaskets in place and rotate engine at least two complete revolutions. If there is no contact, you can be pretty well assured of at least .040" clearance with gaskets torqued down.
 
BEST head gaskets compress down to about .050 to.053”. Slightly more with the copper clad type (ie perhaps another 2 or 3 thou).
 
Brian said:
Rob, I can't answer your question...these things disintegrate upon removing the head....That is why, when I build an engine, i fit the heads with no gaskets in place and rotate engine at least two complete revolutions. If there is no contact, you can be pretty well assured of at least .040" clearance with gaskets torqued down.
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That's what I was working on, just good to know how much they compress, as a rough I measured them at .060 new.
 
The engines I build using the Best brand gaskets I allow .050 for the additional clearance dimension. For additional help in sealing I only use a thin film of silicone sealer around all of the water holes placing the material on the decks of the block and the surface of the heads but only around the water holes. Doing it this way I have found no water leaks and very good gasket sealing.
Ronnieroadster
 
Ronnie, thats good info', I took a set of copper ones off the other week that had only been on for a few hundred miles,I had sprayed them with c/coat all over, and thought about just around the coolant holes would have been easier.
Lawrie
 
Hal Beatty said:
Right here... https://bestgasket.com/head-gasket-bore-thickness/

Or here... https://bestgasket.com/ford-big-bore/
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Thanks Hal, I went on their site first and could not find this..?? They dont list the 507 G..

Anyway Best did get back too me , which I didnt expect over the weekend and this is what came back :
Hello

Thank you for you purchase of our 507G Head Gaskets

The compressed thickness is .053+/-.002”

We recommend a copper coat spray such as K&W or Permatex on both sides of the gasket.
 
mumpsimus said:
How many times can the Best copper clad head gaskets be re-used?
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Depends how the heads came off (if you did any prying around the edges - tends to ruin the gaskets).

Also, once they have been compressed, I do not use them again - as I'm not confident they will seal again. To me, the amount of time/effort it takes to disassemble, clean and reassemble the heads - doesn't make any sense to gamble as to whether or not the head gaskets will seal - so I always use new ones (regardless of type).

The only place I don't is on solid dead-soft copper gaskets (race applications) . . . where sometimes I will anneal them and reuse them.
 
Good to hear it as well. I've got a bunch hanging on nails in my shop ceiling because I just couldn't bring myself to throw them out.
 
I always reuse the copper clad type gaskets on the same engine block and heads they came off. Heck I have even reused the older type steel clad gaskets as well same way as above.
The gaskets seal perfectly when I use silver spray paint {3 light coats per side} on the gasket surfaces and a small amount of silicone sealer around the wafer holes on the block deck and the head surface areas.

Ronnieroadster
 
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