Head gasket question for the old-timers

[alexiskai]

Back in the day, one could get either steel or copper head gaskets for Model A. These days it's composite or copper. Why did vendors stop using steel for head gaskets? Why did they start?

Thinking about it from first principles, it seems like copper would have been an initially inexpensive material that became more expensive in the '40s, so perhaps a cheaper substitute was sought. Steel might also have had higher tensile strength than copper, making it less prone to leaks. But it's also harder than copper, so it wouldn't seal as well against a rough surface.

That's just speculation on my part. Anyone know for sure? I haven't found any discussion of the issue in old magazines.

 

[rotorwrench]

Ford used Victor and McCord head gaskets originally. They were either copper or brass. Vince's Model A B Ford Garage site has a good run down on them. Aftermarket manufacturers tend to use what fails the least even now as they did then. Steel has been used on many later high compression engines but the overhead valve designs about had to. The flathead not so much. They did use composition types with fire rings but the heads warp easier than modern stuff. About everything was likely used at one time or another. Brass is harder than copper but can be alloyed to a softer state. Copper can be annealed to reuse depending on condition and design. Hemmed and fire ringed copper/composition were used some. Hot rodders used solid thicker copper a lot since it could be annealed several times for reuse. Solid ones are still available if you know where to look.

 

[alexiskai]

I talked to Vince about it and he didn't know why steel went out of use. He said he didn't personally have any experiences of steel gaskets failing.

 

[ModelA29]

I wonder if steel came into use when sealers - like copper coat appeared. It could fill in the spaces that the harder steel would not conform to. Steel was the cheaper material but would have been harder on the equipment to form into gaskets.

 

[redmodelt]

I don't know for sure but was thinking around WW2 is when the steel gaskets started, copper was needed for the war effort.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

I have a Mc Cord steel head gasket on my Coupe. It has worked well for 1000s of miles. The curse of head gaskets is the one-size, the big bore 0.125 OS fits all. This gasket has insufficient material between the cylinder bores. Also the silicone composite gasket is unreliable.

 

[alexiskai]

I have a Mc Cord steel head gasket on my Coupe. It has worked well for 1000s of miles. The curse of head gaskets is the one-size, the big bore 0.125 OS fits all. This gasket has insufficient material between the cylinder bores. Also the silicone composite gasket is unreliable.

There are still NOS standard bore gaskets out there, but they are certainly hard to find.

 

[old ugly]

copper is soft and will somewhat form to the mating surfaces.

copper is common in head gaskets. other engines use copper head gasket, old motorcycles and single cyl. engines use them.
reusable for sure. the used solid type copper gaskets would get annealed and reused. i suspect a better seal with copper.

 

[Flathead]

Steel will rust, rust expands and can be troublesome.

 

[alexiskai]

Steel will rust, rust expands and can be troublesome.

It shouldn’t rust if the coolant has been properly treated with corrosion inhibitors.

 

[Flathead]

It shouldn’t rust if the coolant has been properly treated with corrosion inhibitors.

Absolutely agree but years ago water was the norm and life was more risky.