Judging original Head gaskets.

M

Model "A" Fords

Senior Member
Is there a Copper/Asbestos head gasket replacement that looks the same as Henry installed? Something that will pass the judging standards as original.
 
I used a copper clad gasket and painted the edges with white paint and passed Fine Point.
Be careful not to use too much Copper coat on the gasket because it will squeeze out and ruin all your hard work.
 
They seriouly inspect the head gasket for judging? I judge EFV8 Club concourse and I have never heard of this. Do they make you remove the pistons to inspect them also?
 
Seth Swoboda said:
They seriouly inspect the head gasket for judging? I judge EFV8 Club concourse and I have never heard of this. Do they make you remove the pistons to inspect them also?
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Yes, they seriously do. It's in the judging standards, and original head gasket materials and appearance are well known. Model A's are fortunate enough to have great records of how they left the factory, and are one of the few makes that have thorough standards to judge from.

If you think this is over the top, clearly you've never seen Corvette or Porsche concourse shows. They use white gloves, check for proper overspray on the chassis, and check for grease pen markings.

EFV8 and MAFCA/MARC are not the same when it comes to judging. But they'll make YOU pull your pistons to inspect your rings. :rolleyes:
 
Seth Swoboda said:
They seriouly inspect the head gasket for judging? I judge EFV8 Club concourse and I have never heard of this. Do they make you remove the pistons to inspect them also?
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Funny Seth, it does seem like Model-A Fine Point is headed in that direction!! :D . Actually, the Judge(s) are looking for a pretty white edge on the gasket, -and also verifying the gasket does not protrude over the edge of the block &/or head, -or that it is not stamped too short leaving a gap. We generally trim them on a belt sander is they are overhanging.



I have used PPG's Concept White with a hardener to make a long lasting white. We use a small roller and paint the perimeter. This can be done after the Copper-Coat has been applied. I uploaded a couple of pix where the gasket perimeter has been painted White, ...and picture of a stock headgasket on a Rubellite Red '30 Pickup that we did not coat the perimeter with the White paint. You can definitely see the difference.

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If using the copper coat spray use it very sparingly and spray from the inside so as to not get any on the outer edge.
If you get any squeeze out of the copper coat resist the urge to wipe it off as when you do it will smear badly making it very difficult to clean it off.
Rather wait a week or two and allow it to fully dry and get hard. Then it can be trimmed off easily with a razor blade or similar.
 
Thank you guys for the suggestions!

Seth Swoboda said:
They seriouly inspect the head gasket for judging? I judge EFV8 Club concourse and I have never heard of this. Do they make you remove the pistons to inspect them also?
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Seth, thanks for your comments! As a Judge yourself you can seen the attention to detail, Model A Ford Judging Standards are known for.

Having a "Canadian" car, I must differentiate from US manufacture... example, did Canadian cars have the same gasket makeup, showing the white asbestos. To date I believe so.

On that note, does anyone have a sample of the specific white tint for Canadian Asbestos as opposed to the US variant?
 
I was being flippant with my remarks. That is impressive. I do know that the Model A and EFV8 judging standards are much more strict than AACA. You fellas do good work with restorations.
 
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Chris Haynes said:
I don't see a white edge on the First Model A engine that Henry is stamping.
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Chris, while that definitely makes a great argument, we know that first engine was not a production piece. What we are having judged is production vehicles and what was used in the assembly.

Furthermore, the Restoration Guidelines & Judging Standards book is not the absolute authority on how every Model-A vehicle was manufactured. That is the owner's responsibility to determine and document that. That book is, however, the 'rule book' or benchmark by which every vehicle in competition is to be evaluated against. The Adjudicators are simply going to look for that white core, ...and if it is not 'white enough' to suit them, as memory serves me, there will be less than 1 point deduction out of 500 points. No big deal in the grande scheme of things.
 
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