Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

This is an engine I bought a few years ago. I took the heads off to use on another engine and just now paid attention to the head gasket. As you see, there are three 15/16-inch coolant holes at the top of the cylinders. Now look at the gasket. It has a single 3/16-inch hole for the outside two big holes and two 3/16-holes for the middle one. FYI, it would take 25 of the 3/16-inch holes to equal one 15/16 hole!

Since this gasket is just a step above blocking the coolant completely, I am wondering who would even make a gasket like this and for what??

Thanks,

Bob

[Jack H.]

Re: Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

Looks like a standard Fel-Pro PermaTorque gasket to me based on the familiar blue color. Part #7733PT2. Arguably one of the most popular head gaskets ever made (non-OEM). Pic courtesy of www.rockauto.com:

SFL_7733PT2_P04_TOP__ra_p.jpg

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

Probably universal small block that also works on the 400 small block that has some odd cooling passages

[Joe L.]

Re: Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

Hi all,

This is an engine I bought a few years ago. I took the heads off to use on another engine and just now paid attention to the head gasket. As you see, there are three 15/16-inch coolant holes at the top of the cylinders. Now look at the gasket. It has a single 3/16-inch hole for the outside two big holes and two 3/16-holes for the middle one. FYI, it would take 25 of the 3/16-inch holes to equal one 15/16 hole!

Since this gasket is just a step above blocking the coolant completely, I am wondering who would even make a gasket like this and for what??

Thanks,

Bob

Bob-----


This is a Fel-Pro Permatorque head gasket as Jack mentions. The hole configuration, including the 3/16" cooling holes, are exactly the same as GM small block head gaskets.

[Bob B.]

Re: Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

That still seems nuts to me. Can anyone explain why GM/Chevrolet would cast large coolant passages for the heads and then would use gaskets that all but block circulation of the coolant?? What if you cut the gasket holes to match?

[Joe L.]

Re: Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

T

What if you cut the gasket holes to match?

Bob------



Seems like a logical thing to do. Would I do it? Not in a million years. I do not know what the underlying engineering reasons were but I'm certain there were good and well thought out engineering reasons. I would not second-guess those.

[Michael S.]

Re: Need ID of Wacky Head Gasket

Bob, i just started a resto on my 64 coupe with 37445 miles on it. the engine has been apart as one head cast date is after the cars build date. i know gm had problems with rocker studs coming out. here is a pic of the head gasket i removed. in my opinion the reason the holes are so big in the engine and heads is for room for the casting process. water will take the path of least resistance. so having the water passage holes is to regulate the water flow so the engine/heads cools at the same rate. if the top holes were as big as the hole in the block the water would flow thru to fast to properly regulate the temp. HEAD GASKETS 001.JPG