Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

[Tracy C.]

Felpro offers a shim gasket at .015 thk and Mr Gasket offers one advertised at .02 but it measures closer to .030. I need one in the .019 - ,020 range.

Anyone?

thanks,
tc

[Clem Z.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Felpro offers a shim gasket at .015 thk and Mr Gasket offers one advertised at .02 but it measures closer to .030. I need one in the .019 - ,020 range.

Anyone?

thanks,
tc

remember the compressed thickness is greater than the thickness of the material.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

OK..anyone with a idea of what the .015 felpro shim would end up being after installation ? I agree, the embossed beads would not likely smash completely flat.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

OK..anyone with a idea of what the .015 felpro shim would end up being after installation ? I agree, the embossed beads would not likely smash completely flat.

.005 difference in thickness means about .1 difference in CR. try the fel pro website for the compressed thickness

[Clem Z.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

OK..anyone with a idea of what the .015 felpro shim would end up being after installation ? I agree, the embossed beads would not likely smash completely flat.

checked the fel pro catalog and that is the compressed thickness .015

[Tracy C.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Yes...and the shim gasket actually measures .0155 on the edges.

[Duke W.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Most gasket thickness specs are of the gasket compressed when installed with proper torque.

Shim type gaskets will compress to the thickness of the original material, so their compressed thickness can be measured on an unformed portion of the material prior to installation.

I have a reference to a Victor Reinz stainless steel shim gasket - .020" - 1178SSB.

Duke

[Tracy C.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Thank you Duke !

That part is as close as my local Auto Zone...

You have email.

tc

[Clem Z.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Most gasket thickness specs are of the gasket compressed when installed with proper torque.

Shim type gaskets will compress to the thickness of the original material, so their compressed thickness can be measured on an unformed portion of the material prior to installation.

I have a reference to a Victor Reinz stainless steel shim gasket - .020" - 1178SSB.

Duke

these are close to the original GM 336 stainless gaskets and are very stiff. i would be careful using them if the heads and block are not trued. also i would use high temp aluminum paint as a sealer.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Thanks Clem,
tc

[Michael F.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

these are close to the original GM 336 stainless gaskets and are very stiff. i would be careful using them if the heads and block are not trued. also i would use high temp aluminum paint as a sealer.

My deck and head surfaces were true.

I used a light coat of Permatex copper gasket sealer on my .015 shim gasket.

Is that not a good choice for a sealer?

[Clem Z.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

My deck and head surfaces were true.

I used a light coat of Permatex copper gasket sealer on my .015 shim gasket.

Is that not a good choice for a sealer?

i always used high temp aluminum paint and never had a problem even in 13:1 CR race engines. some of the shim gaskets now sold have a rubber type coating and you should not use any sealer of any kind. torquing the bolts in steps of 10# at a time after starting at 25# will be the best way of not having gasket failure.

[Michael F.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

i always used high temp aluminum paint and never had a problem even in 13:1 CR race engines. some of the shim gaskets now sold have a rubber type coating and you should not use any sealer of any kind. torquing the bolts in steps of 10# at a time after starting at 25# will be the best way of not having gasket failure.

Yes, Viton coating.

Woops! Mine are. I don't think the sealer will hurt anything. I hope.

They re-torqued well and no leaks.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Michael,

Do you have a set of feeler gages to determine your final compressed thickness?

tc

[Timothy B.]

Re: Source for SBC .020 steel shim head gasket ?

Tracy,

If you can find a set of GM 3830711 shim gaskets they measure at .022 thick, I picked up a NOS set and have measured them myself.