I was getting together a list of the last few engine parts that I needed to get so I can build my engine this June. The big question came down to head gaskets. I was told a lot of people run the Fel Pro 1014 (.039" thick x 4.200" bore w/steam holes) on 400's, and the thing is built like a tank. I was going to use that, then I thought maybe the 1004 (.041"thick 4.19" bore w/steam holes).

Now if I have a .030 over 400 sbc (4.156" bore), is 4.190" plenty big enough, or is 4.200 necessary? which is the better bet?

Most of the head gaskets have the disclaimer
"Pre-flattened steel wire causes minimal brinneling on aluminum heads."
is this a bad thing that I should try to steer clear of?

Here's the FelPro 1010:
"Small Block Chevrolet 262-400 Fel-Pro Head Gasket, Pre-Flattened Copper, .039 in. Thick, 4.166 in. Bore. No steam holes are drilled in the gasket for street use on 400 blocks. Pre-flattened copper wire does not cause any brinneling on aluminum heads. "

Should I attempt to run one of these and drill steam holes in the gasket? I have no template that way, as my heads aren't drilled yet. Is this a bad choice for a 400 with the large bores and close proximity of the steam holes to the bores?

Are there any other types of head gaskets that I should be looking at? I was thinking of GM Performance Parts to see what they offered with steam holes.

Am I better zero decking the block, or just cleaning up the deck surface and using a thinner shim style head gasket???? Especially given aluminum heads and the 400's large bore and steam holes.

Thanks.



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'71 RS/SS project: full roller 406sbc / 9.76:1 w/ E-Tec Al. heads / 750 Competition AFB / big 4 whl discs, 1-5/16 VSE ft & 1" Rancho adj. rr sway bars / 4 speed 3.23 posi / 81 Z28 & dual snorkel vette Air Induction

The there's this from GMPP, no steam holes, can they be added?

12363763 Head Gasket "Special Competition"
This heavy-duty composition head gasket for iron or aluminum heads is teflon coated and has pre-flattened steel fire rings (this feature reduces head and deck surface galling). This gasket features a 4.200" bore for bow tie, 400 small blocks and aluminum blocks. This gasket does not have steam holes required for the production 400 S/B. It does have revised coolant hole pattern (this reduces coolant temperatures between the center bores). This head has compressed thickness of .038" with volume of 8.9cc and this does not require retorquing.
http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfparts/images/parts/large/12363763_large.jpg

Milodon Copper sets:
697-40005 Engine: SB-Chevy
Bore: 4.125-4.155''
Thick: .040'' $69.99
Milodon copper head gaskets are perfect for applications requiring extra sealing or using very high compression. Each gasket is CNC machined from solid copper sheet for perfect bore spacing and stud hole alignment. Apply a thin bead of silicone around the water passageways for street use. Reusable for many rebuilds. 2/pkg. (NO STEAL HOLES)

Mr Gasket copper hd gskt chev 400
Ultra Seal head gaskets combine a Graphoil & copper core with a non-retorquing Elastomer coating for a tight seal. Gasket sealers are not needed. They will not creep, cold-flow or brinell the block. Corrosion resistant to exotic fuels. (I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE STEAM HOLES, ALTHOUGH 400 IS IN THE MODEL NAME)
Model Number: 5361
[img]http://go.mrgasket.com/e-images04-350//5361.jpg[\img]


GM Performance Parts 0.041" Race - Heavy-Duty Small Block Chevy Part #10185054 $26.50 ea
This Teflon-coated GM Performance Parts Head Gasket has solid pre-flattened wire O-rings around each cylinder. It is highly recommended for competition engines with 4.00" to 4.125" cylinder bores. Compressed thickness is .041". (Use with iron or aluminum heads).

Technical Notes: This gasket does not require re-torquing. Drill steam holes when using this gasket on 400ci small-blocks. This gasket has a bore of 4.166" and compressed volume of 9.1cc.


0.051" Composition 350 ZZ4 Small Block Chevrolet Head Gasket
Price: $15.59
Part # 12557236
GM Performance Parts Head Gasket For Corvette production aluminum cylinder heads. Compressed thickness is .051". This gasket’s stainless steel fire rings prevent galvanic action between the aluminum head and cast iron block. This gasket is used on 350 HO engines. Can be used on cast iron or aluminum heads. Sold as a single gasket


4.165" Bore 283-400 SB Chevrolet MLS Cometic Head Gasket
Price: $59.99
Part #COMC5327
4.165" Bore 283-400 Small Block Chevy MLS Cometic Head Gasket
This is the latest in head sealing technology, a unique Multiple-Layer system with special high-temp materials that is designed to meet the demands of a variety of harsh sealing environments, load conditions and surface finishes. The MLS is the ideal gasket for both aluminum heads to cast iron blocks as well as aluminum heads to aluminum blocks. No re-torquing is required. These are great for Turbo and Nitrous applications.

alright, that's all I have really found, most of which don't have steam holes. I don't have any old gaskets to use as a template for steam holes. can most of these be drilled for steam holes? or Should I just stick wtih the Fel Pro 1014 even though it may cause "minor brinneling of my aluminum heads?"

[This message has been edited by Chuck78 (edited May 13, 2005).]

I've ran both the flattened steel and the copper. The steel will show in the heads. Aluminum expands and contracts at different rates than the cast iron block, so the head 'walks around',,, leaves it's evidence in the head surface. Not entirely a bad thing. It forms a 'reveiver groove' (if you will) and seal isn't compromised as long as you use the same type of gasket on future teardowns. Had a set of RPM heads that went on 3 different motors with flattened steel ring gaskets each time, no problems. Those heads were on one motor hosed with a 250 shot of nitrous, no problems.

Likewise I have used the flattened aluminum or copper ring gaskets from FelPro and have never lost a head gasket with static compressions up to 13.2:1 So really I think ths is just more a matter of personal opinion. When you have 2 or 3 grand in a set of heads it hurts more to see the brinell effect when you pull the heads, but in all honesty a 'receiver groove' may help hold a seal with high cylinder pressures (an opinion, not a proven fact)

On the gasket bore, I've pulled 4.165" bore motors apart that used a standard FelPro 1010 gasket with a 4.166 diameter. As long as it doesn't hang out into the chamber, they seem to live (against all odds)

Myself, for a 400 based motor on the street, I'd use the 1014 and drill the steam holes, and zero deck the block for a nice, tight, detonation resistant quench.

I ran Mr. Gasket's, .020" steel shims on my cast-iron -461 headed 406 by removing the overhang by hand that is at the intake side of the chambers. I just reached up inside it and scribed a line on each cylinder and CAREFULLY ground it off with a fine cut round file and a stone in my 1/4" drill! I also drilled the steam holes too!


I don't have a problem at all with doing the same thing to Fel-pro's .015" thick #1094's that are rubber coated steel to fit them on a 400 motor.

AND I say this b/c I think they are recommended to be able to be used with aluminum heads too!!

IF I ever wanted to run a thin headgasket on an aluminum headed 400 motor...

pdq67

PS., and I am also almost anal about torquing my heads at least three times after heat-cycling over two to three days too!!! Plus, I would use aluminum spray paint or Copper-Cote too as added insurance even with the rubber coating!!

Corteco makes two gaskets with a 4.190 bore and a compressed thickness or .038. These gaskets do NOT brinnel an aluminum head. The are made of two layers of steel with a graphite center. This gasket also has a patent pending WhiteSeal Technology coating that seals immediately and is truely a non stick coating. We are using them in one SBC 68 Camaro driven by Augie Harrera with 13 lbs of boost and run on a 7.50 index. We have run 20 lbs of boost without any problems at close to 2000 hp and 200 MPH. These gaskets do not require any sealant or wire rings to seal.
55431 HG with steam holes
55656 HG without steam holes. Hope this helps. Pat

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73 RS Black w/Silver stripes going to the dark side with a 468. 96 GTS Viper Blue w/white stripes (wifes). www.corteco-na.com (http://www.corteco-na.com)

Man that's great! Where can I get these? I'll have to look around.
Thanks for the tip!

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'71 RS/SS project: full roller 406sbc / 9.76:1 w/ E-Tec Al. heads / 750 Competition AFB / big 4 whl discs, 1-5/16 VSE ft & 1" Rancho adj. rr sway bars / 4 speed 3.23 posi / 81 Z28 & dual snorkel vette Air Induction

http://www.corteco-na.com/ (http://www.corteco-usa.com/)

product info, I'm sold!
http://www.corteco-usa.com/PROD/PDF/WhiteSealTechnology.pdf

who sells these?

[This message has been edited by Chuck78 (edited May 16, 2005).]

Weren't they at one time, "Detroit Gasket"??

pdq67

contact info is in Michigan:

CORTECO USA

47690 E.Anchor Court
Plymouth, MI 48170-2455

Tel. 001-734-451-0020
Fax 001-734-451-0433

Could have been Detroit Gasket. Read that pdf file link, sounds like some good shit.

So I went to http://www.rockauto.com and looked up a 78 Chevy Suburban to find my 78 "509" 400 block, and realized their part number listings were a little different than the manufacturers, but I see when I look up 400 head gaskets, they list a 20431CS for $13.03 each! The Corteco part number I am looking for is 55431HG, so the 431 in common probably means that I have the one, especially since it says that it's a Corteco brand and I was looking at the 400 small block listing. I think I need to place an order for some gaskets, and Moog springs (DIRT CHEAP AT ROCK AUTO!), and all new front end parts from Rock Auto here asap!

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'71 RS/SS project: full roller 406sbc / 9.76:1 w/ E-Tec Al. heads / 750 Competition AFB / big 4 whl discs, 1-5/16 VSE ft & 1" Rancho adj. rr sway bars / 4 speed 3.23 posi / 81 Z28 & dual snorkel vette Air Induction

pdg67, yes we bought DG about 6 years ago. Spent $$$$$$$$ retooling and redesigning the gaskets and kept one hell of a work force. If I didn't work for this company, I'd still use the gaskets as they are truely the best gasket on the market. I met 1000's of racers at the races we sponsor and shows like PRI last year and had nothing but great responses from the racers. Edelbrock uses the head gaskets and many others on all their crate engines because they work so well. Thanks Pat



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73 RS Black w/Silver stripes going to the dark side with a 468. 96 GTS Viper Blue w/white stripes (wifes). www.corteco-na.com (http://www.corteco-na.com)

PL 73RS,

Thanks for setting the record straight!!

pdq67