sbc head gasket installation

Bobby Zlatkin · 02-09-2012, 05:42 AM

With iron heads and using a shim steel head gasket, do you install them dry or use a sealant, i.e. Copper Coat?

I know you've got to use a sealant on the head bolts. That's not what I'm talking about.

engineguy · 02-09-2012, 11:19 AM

Bobby,
On steel shim head gaskets I use heat resistant silver pain that is made for barbeque grills and can be purchased at hardware stores such as Ace. Buy it in a can and put a thick coat on both sides of the gasket with a small paint brush. Let the paint dry slightly and install the heads while the paint is slightly tacky and torque the bolts to the recommended torque value in several steps increasing the torque by 5 lbs beginning at 30 ft/lbs until the target torque is reached. Have used this method on cast iron heads for 40+ years without a single head gasket failure.

Alan Roehrich · 02-09-2012, 11:43 AM

I now use Permatex spray copper coat. You can use "high temp aluminum" paint, but it seems to have been "reformulated" recently, and it does not work as well. That's why I switched to the copper coat about 4 years ago, after using the "High temp aluminum" paint for decades.

Bobby Zlatkin · 02-09-2012, 02:30 PM

Thanks guys. You gave me something to go with.

Dwight Southerland · 02-09-2012, 06:06 PM

Depends who makes the gasket. Using GM 711 gaskets, I always put them on dry (and have re-used them in a pinch with no problems). They are already coated with a special paint. If the head and/or deck were broach machined, it may be a benefit.

02-09-2012, 05:42 AM	#1
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	sbc head gasket installation With iron heads and using a shim steel head gasket, do you install them dry or use a sealant, i.e. Copper Coat? I know you've got to use a sealant on the head bolts. That's not what I'm talking about. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

02-09-2012, 11:19 AM	#2
engineguy Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gold Canyon, AZ Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: sbc head gasket installation Bobby, On steel shim head gaskets I use heat resistant silver pain that is made for barbeque grills and can be purchased at hardware stores such as Ace. Buy it in a can and put a thick coat on both sides of the gasket with a small paint brush. Let the paint dry slightly and install the heads while the paint is slightly tacky and torque the bolts to the recommended torque value in several steps increasing the torque by 5 lbs beginning at 30 ft/lbs until the target torque is reached. Have used this method on cast iron heads for 40+ years without a single head gasket failure.

02-09-2012, 11:43 AM	#3
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,105 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	Re: sbc head gasket installation I now use Permatex spray copper coat. You can use "high temp aluminum" paint, but it seems to have been "reformulated" recently, and it does not work as well. That's why I switched to the copper coat about 4 years ago, after using the "High temp aluminum" paint for decades. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

02-09-2012, 02:30 PM	#4
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: sbc head gasket installation Thanks guys. You gave me something to go with. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

02-09-2012, 06:06 PM	#5
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,000 Likes: 64 Liked 776 Times in 193 Posts	Re: sbc head gasket installation Depends who makes the gasket. Using GM 711 gaskets, I always put them on dry (and have re-used them in a pinch with no problems). They are already coated with a special paint. If the head and/or deck were broach machined, it may be a benefit.