Head Gaskets

[cdan34]

I have a fresh 276 ci French block with a Camden blower. I'm using '52 Merc heads and I've run the engine on and off for maybe 15 minutes. I think I've got most of the details carburator, timing, and fan dialed in. The engine gets up to 190 temp and I'm thinking that's a bit much for me. I took radiator, heads, water pumps off. The fan is a pusher on the front of radiator, I made the mistake of reversing the polarity rather than the blades. now that's fixed. The next problem I see is the head gaskets. I'm using the Graph Tite and I look at the water port holes. The top center hole on the (block) is a large smile, 2 in lg. The center and bottom are 1 1/4 round and the rear are three large gord shaped holes. On the gasket the center top hole is small 3/4 oval and the center and bottom holes are 1/4 dia. On the rear the top two are the same as block and the bottom rear hole is a small 1/4 dia. hole.
I'm familiar with the idea of pushing the water to the back of block for cooling. To me this looks a little too restictive with the gasket holes. Am I off on this! I want to hear from you experts, what do you think O'Ron !

Thanks much
Chuck

 

[Mike in AZ]

oooo, got pics of that engine?? 190 doesn't sound too bad to me, maybe it would be less when on the road??...is engine broken in??....Mike