Ok up to this point my first engine rebuild has been pretty straight forward. But I now need to get a set of head gaskets and am totally befuddled by all of the choices. Here is what I have:

SBC 350 bored .030 over
Alum. Holley heads with 68cc chambers
Block deck is .010 in the hole (Already decked)
KB pistons with 7cc valve reliefs

I calculated that I need a head gasket with .028 thickness to get me to the 9.75 compression ratio I want for my setup.

So my question(s) are:
1. What size gasket bore can I use? Anything over 4.100? What is too big/small?
2. What is the best material to use for aluminum heads? Or does this really matter (I would have to think it does).

3. Can anyone suggest a gasket that will work for this?

ANY help on this would be great as I am at somewhat of a loss.

Thanks
-- Jeff

Be sure to use na approved head gasket for Cast Iron Block to Alum heads.....Check the Felpro or Mr Gasket sites. Chevrolet also has an OEM L98 Corvette gasket but it's .041 thick....

well i picked the right thickness of head gasket, but got the wrong resone. your overall compresion dosnt realy matter, i wouldnt pic my head gaskets based on what compresion ratio it gave me. i would how ever pic my head gasket on the qunech it have me. qunech is the area between the top of the piston and the bottem of the head. ideal qunech is .040" quech reduces detonation by creating turbulance in the combustion chaimber. so what u need it a .030" thick or so head gasket, and i try to get the smallest bore as posible to keep my comresion as high as posible.

these should fit the bill

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=MRG%2D1134&autoview=sku

Fel-pro's #1094's at .015" thickness can also be used here b/c they are rubber coated to protect the aluminum head decks from brinneling.

pdq67

As usual you gentlemen are a wealth of information. Thanks again for your help!

--Jeff

Fel-pro's #1094's at .015" thickness can also be used here b/c they are rubber coated to protect the aluminum head decks from brinneling.

pdq67


yeah but .025" of qunech might be a bit much for a home built motor. he could risk smashing the piston into the head if all isnt well. personaly i wouldnt go much less then .035 when building a daily driver.

Ooop's, my bad!!

I missed the decked is all!!

Or stack them..

please carry-on.

pdq67

Ooop's, my bad!!

I missed the decked is all!!

Or stack them..

please carry-on.

pdq67



do people still stack em?? i mean there is so many choices out there. also is reliabilty comprmised when u stack em. i would use the Mr Gasket units i sugested. right thickness, rightaplication(aluminum heads) and a farily small bore size. most of the fel pros are 4.166 bore excepth for the 1043 wich is a 4.080 bore!

Actually Jay I went with the Mr. Gaskets you had suggested. They look like they will work pretty well.

Thanks again.