French block water jackets

[hansjarn]

On this block there's teardrop water jackets both front and rear. I can't find head gaskets or heads that mirror these, most have round holes in the front. Maybe i get this wrong but wouldn't a 8ba head gasket limit the water flow in the front of the block?

 

[corvette8n]

I think the French blocks have there own set of head gaskets
http://www.sfflatheads.com/gaskets/head-gasket-set/

 

[Mart]

French head gaskets are the same as 8BA. The gaskets do limit the flow at the front of the head to force more coolant to the rear of the motor to aid cooling of the rearmost cylinders.

I've used Big Bore 8BA gaskets on a French motor.

Mart.

 

[JSeery]

If you look at almost any head gasket the holes in the gasket are going to be smaller than the holes in the block. Sometimes a lot smaller.

 

[40 Deluxe]

Holes in the block have to be big enough to get the core sand out quickly, while the holes in the head gasket regulate and direct coolant flow.

 

[TomT/Williamsburg]

I used 8 ba gaskets in the French block of my old 40 coupe. They were good enough for 15+ years before selling it .....