Head Gasket for 21 stud

W

wright-47

Member
In your wise fordbarn opinion which is better copper or graphtite?
I have used graphtite gaskets on heavy duty diesels with good success but never copper on anything.
Love fordbarn keep up the good work
 
Depends what type of cylinder heads you have fitted to your 21 stud engine. If they are cast iron then copper head gaskets are fine. If it is aluminium then composite gaskets are required. Copper can react with aluminium and cause corrosion problems at the very least. Coolant is very important, but that is another story with 50 different answers. Regards, Kevin.
 
I have aluminum heads and never thought about the reaction with copper. Why would you use grease on the composite. Never found a need on any motors we have already done.
 
I have had no problems with copper or steel gaskets well coated with copper coat and would never use the other type especially on valuable heads. The composite gaskets bond to the heads and block and cause the heads to stick on and they will fail as easy as any other gasket. By the time they are cleaned from a alum. head if you can get it off there will be scratch and gouge marks and so on.
 
jimTN said:
I have had no problems with copper or steel gaskets well coated with copper coat and would never use the other type especially on valuable heads. The composite gaskets bond to the heads and block and cause the heads to stick on and they will fail as easy as any other gasket. By the time they are cleaned from a alum. head if you can get it off there will be scratch and gouge marks and so on.
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I always use composite against aluminum and when I have (rarely required) to remove them, a little patience has served me well. No damage to the heads whatsoever.
I prefer gaskets that bond well. That's kind of a main requirement :)
 
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