Thread: Blown head gaskets

Tweet

I'm looking for some advice! I have a 545CI BBF in my '67 GTA fastback. Made about 10 passes on it, two blown headgaskets, the second of which resulted in a half track encounter with the wall, after pressurizing the cooling system and spraying water under the tires!
Anyway, I am in the process of rebuilding and wonder if I would be better served with copper gaskets.
The motor is fresh. 545 SCAT stroker kit, 13.5:1 compression, stock cast iron heads (ported), running a 1050 Dominator (stock airbleeds, stock jets), temperature ran in the 200-205 degree range on track.
As a result of the crash I have had to front clip this thing and don't want to go through that again.
All advice, sympathy, laughter, criticism appreciated!

Copper head gasket are nice and reusable,but Fel-pro makes a great head gasket for the 385 block.I've dragraced Fords all my life and the only time I hade any problem with loosing water was with a gasket I had damaged when I installed it. (Intake gasket)
You may want to check your deck for flatness and you heads. Don't be affraid to use a high quality silicone at youwater passages. Hope it helps some

Might as well use copper while you have it apart, it's cheap insurance. Out of curiosity, what type of fuel are you running with that setup?


Abe

Abe,
thanks for the reply. I am running 118 octane. I purchase at the track. usually unocal brand.
Tom

http://www.scegaskets.com/techtips/engineprep.html

Good info for getting your engine ready for the gaskets. That same site also has a dealer locator.

Abe

Do all copper gaskets require o-rings are used?