What do you think about installing a used copper head gasket?
Bill,
I believe it a time vs money issue. If the used gasket looks bad – don’t try it. If the used gasket came off the block easily and looks really good then it might (repeat might) work. It has worked ok for some folks in the past. It has also NOT worked ok for other folks in the past. A new copper head gasket is listed for 25.95 and a new steel gasket is listed for 13.95. If it fails, and you catch it easily then you are only out the cost of time and effort to replace the head gasket. I.e. you notice the failure the first day you have installed it. If it fails at the wrong time or in the wrong way it could allow coolant (which usually contains water) to seep into the oil sump and/or into one or more of the cylinders. If you park your T for the winter and that happened you could have a bigger cleanup / rust problem than if it leaks and you notice it when you first put the coolant back in after installing the head and before you have even fired it up. And if it blows the gasket at a bad time – you happen to be in the middle of nowhere, it is dark, it is cold, and it will start to rain in a couple of hours, you will be running on perhaps three or fewer cylinders and hoping to get back into cell tower range for your cell phone. . (A middle of the road Murphy’s law would say during the Christmas parade – and you could probably limp home or back to the trailer.)
Based on the above I would recommend be out the additional $26 dollars and enjoy the peace of mind. Note – it is wise to check the block and head for straightness before installing a new head gasket.
If you still want to try and reuse the old copper head gasket the thread at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/238041.html?1317164407 recommends soak them with water, and freeze them. There were several who have reused them successfully.
Some previous comments:
Against:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/249494.html?1322427003
By Terry A. Woods on Saturday, November 26, 2011 - 11:42 pm:
Greg, I will never take short cuts and try to reuse a head gasket. They are a lot cheaper, new, than an engine rebuild. My cousin bought a 27 coupe from a guy who admitted that the head gasket leaked "some". He said that he had reused it several times. To make long story, short; engine was seized. I did something similar. I bought a 26 fordor the previous owner said leaked a little at the back. He said he just kept retorquing it until it shopped leaking. First thing I did was pull the head. I'm glad that I did. A quarter inch diameter piece was missing out of the head gasket. Even the cheapest new head gasket is better than a used one.
And just a fun read about reusing the gasket– don’t take it seriously: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/169427.html?1289186046
Good luck with your decision. One of the other nice things about a T – they are very forgiving.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Another story: 1984 and I was Busted Flat In Baton Rouge, Waitin' for a T (actually living in Denham Springs La.) and BROKE. Spotted this '27 4 door sedan behind a convenience store. Made a deal with the owner to get it running for $100 worth of food. The head was off for 20 years and frozen solid. That means like crusty rust on the cylinder walls! The rest of the car was original and even the interior was almost perfect, just old.
The guy had it flat bedded to our house, and I commenced soaking it up with P oil. I put a cup of PB Blaster in each hole and the next day it was all gone. Put the car in high gear and rocked it back and forth and she freed up after some muscle work. Put a rope on it and had my pal drag me around the block at about 5 mph, got home and changed the oil.
Now the best part. The store owner was too cheap to buy a head gasket! I looked under a pile of junk on the floor of the back seat, and found the old one, and it was all twisted up and in bad shape. I flattened it out and used some copper never seize on it and clamped the head back down. Filled it up with water and some gas and she spun over 3-4 times and fired right off. Flipped it over to mag and she kept running. UNBELIEVABLE!
It was actually one of the better running Ts Ive ever worked on. Drove it around with a 1960 tag on it until the end of summer until there was no low band left. The owner didnt want to invest in a band job. I wonder what ever became of it. troop
[IMG]http://i49.tinypic.com/2eflr1k.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/2zxowb8.jpg[/IMG]
i remember that thread, i wonder what happened to the detailed map of how much expansion took place...
At $85 a gasket i have started reusing them.
I have reused copper head gaskets on the same
block with good success but Im reluctant to use one on a different block because the surface could be slightly different
Kep:
I don't know what freight to NZ costs but I get my head gaskets from Ford and More in Spokane for $19.95 plus something for freight. That is the improved copper head gasket with the kevlar insides.
Dave- can you post a link to the Ford and More website? I am not having much luck finding it.
I think these fellows are still back in the "sorry no website - give us a call" days.
Try:
2225 North Dollar Road Spokane Valley, WA 99212
(509) 535-7196
schuh
I have reused Copper gaskets before but I always heat them in the oven for about 1 hour at 400 then turn off the oven and let it cool before taking the gaskt out. Theory here is the copper will expand just a tad and cool slow to make it softer. Annealing process. I have not had an issue with leaks but if it is on my car with say a new head I spend the money on a new gskt.
Copper is annealed by heating to red and quenching.
John Doolittle:
The email address of Ford-N-More is www.antiqueautorach.com. Or info@antiqueautoranch.com.
When I was just out of High School a friend and I bought a 29 Model A Rumble Seat Coupe for the unheard of price of $600.00. It had been restored but had sat for a couple of years and the head gasket leaked water into one cylinder and rusted that piston into place. My friend helped me drag the car with a chain and we tried to pop the clutch to break it loose. That did not work. We removed the head and cut a piece of hardwood to fit on top of the piston and proceeded to whack it with a BFH until it broke loose. We bolted the head back on with the original leaking head gasket slathered with copper coat. It worked, but smoked a little bit. We had a ball with the car for about a year until someone offered to double our purchase price. We foolishly sold the car and felt good about doubling our investment. I wish I still had it. I think that whoever rebuilt that engine did not re-torque the head bolts after starting the engine. I now use new head gaskets when I pull a head off but youth and lack of funds can sometimes beat best practices. By the way I figured out early in this financial venture that the place to be was in the rumble seat with your girlfriend and not in the drivers seat. After all it took two hands to drive the Model A!
Have reused several over the years, no problems not a time over money issue, at that time for us it was a money issue period... Lol