Tell me about head gaskets

[Oldav8tor]

I've never been able to inspect a copper head gasket closely. Are they one piece of copper or a sandwich of copper and other materials? If one-piece I would think that they could be cut with a laser or other cutting technology.

I heard the shortage is because the die used to make the gaskets was damaged. Anybody know the details?

[Dropacent]

Blows my mind someone isn’t wacking them out, Tim. It ain’t rocket science. The days of the $35 head gasket are gone, though.

[TXGOAT2]

Most "copper" head gaskets are a sandwich of soft sheets of copper with a filler of some type of heat-resistant fiber. The openings around the cylinder bores and many of the water passages are ringed with sheet copper channel. Many gaskets come with a coating of varnish like material, and some are bare. As early as 1949, Ford was using head and intake manifold gaskets made of asbestos fiber over a sheet steel perforated core and impregnated with graphite. Annealed steel channel was used around most openings.

[Harry Lillo]

I would add that some of the modern Model T copper clad gaskets contained an elastomer material much like
a 350 chevy head gasket.
The last run of these I had made up used the original Fitzgerald dies. I did so after experiencing head gasket
failures (others here did as well) when they replaced the asbestos with a fiberglass type material. I had to
do a minimum run of 100 gaskets. Most were sold to local T guys here at cost ($20).
I am currently out of the country so can't check the manufacturers name.
Harry Lillo
Panama

[Dropacent]

Let’s get with the program, Harry ! Vacation over

[Harry Lillo]

Tim,
My wife says I have to stay here little a longer!!
Harry

[mbowen]

Tim, if you want to take a close look at a copper head gasket, I have two; one that was kinked a little on removal before I knew they were now unobtainable, and another that may be reusable. I have about 50-60 miles on a silicone head gasket and so far so good, but it hasn’t been run very hard. My other T is currently headless and I haven’t 100% made up my mind whether to use a new silicone gasket or the used copper one.

[TXGOAT2]

You might try soaking the old gasket in soapy water, then rinsing it off and freezing solid it while it's still wet. Thaw it out and dry it thoroughly before coating with Coppercoat and using.

[Steve Jelf]

When Adam Doleshal finished my engine work he used one of these to put the head back on. He says they're excellent, and he uses them instead of copper.

[JBog]

"Gaskets - To - Go" will make you a head gasket.

https://gasketstogo.com/

[JBog]

When Adam Doleshal finished my engine work he used one of these to put the head back on. He says they're excellent, and he uses them instead of copper.

Steve, I can't find a website for that company. Do you have contact info?

[mbowen]

You might try soaking the old gasket in soapy water, then rinsing it off and freezing solid it while it's still wet. Thaw it out and dry it thoroughly before coating with Coppercoat and using.

I assume this process is to re-expand the fiber layer?

[TXGOAT2]

Exactly. Baking in a 250 F oven and quenching in water might do the same thing, but it would probably ruin the oven. I haven't tried either process, but it's probably worth a try.

[Harry Lillo]

I have soaked rare European motorcycle head gaskets in water and heated them with a propane torch to
swell the asbestos core and aneal the copper jacket.
With copper coat they have held with some fairly high compression ratios.
Also did so on an early Chevy once when one was not readily available.
You could probably do the same in an oven as Pat suggests. I would soak it first however.
Harry

[Steve Jelf]

Steve, I can't find a website for that company. Do you have contact info?

I bought a couple from Adam. You can contact him through the forum. Go to the top of this page and click on Extra Quick links, then Search for members.

[Henry K. Lee]

If no one buys even the Felpro head gasket engine kits at $150.00, in no time they will quit production. Supply vs demand. Welcome to the death of a hobby. If you think this is high.., with oil prices going up, everything goes up!

[Scott_Conger]

Perhaps this will make the "my engine was running a little rough, so I took the head off" crowd think twice before they actually do it...

then again...

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

I received the following message from Gaskets-To-Go...

https://gasketstogo.com/

Thank you for contacting me

We make that kind of gasket all the time, but I have not had any orders for model T gaskets. I suspect that might be because there have been large stocks of those NOS and aftermarket. If you can send me an image or drawing of any gasket and let me know the L x W x thickness and quantity I will be happy to let you know pricing

Regards,

John

[Mark Anderson]

Olson's Gaskets: Engine Gaskets for the Antique Market
https://www.olsonsgaskets.com

[MichaelPawelek]

Olson's Gaskets: Engine Gaskets for the Antique Market
https://www.olsonsgaskets.com

They do not list the standard Model T head gasket.

[Mark Anderson]

If you would send an old one for a pattern they will make it. Give them a call.

[J1MGOLDEN]

I have purchased several of Adam's gaskets and they work fine!

[Oldav8tor]

I like this....looking for a solution is the Model T way!