Gasket between cylinder case and head?

[Kevin G.]

This question has come up elsewhere and I'm looking for the accurate information.
Lets start with the 71 model year only because that happens to be the car in question.

Did the factory install a gasket between these mating surfaces?
Or was it a metal to metal?

Was there different methods used for connecting small vs. big block heads to the block? Meaning one might use gaskets the other did not?

Thanks in advance,

[Edward J.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Kevin, always had gaskets between block and heads. on any engines.

[Kevin G.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

One vote for yes! Thanks Ed

Next please?

[Dick W.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Always, look at your shop manual and parts book

[Kevin G.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

That's two! I'm going down in flames.....lol

Thanks guys! My mistake! I confused the head connection with the exhaust manifold to block connection! Where there was no gasket!

[Richard M.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Kevin, If you're bet was about the exhaust manifolds to the heads.......you'd have won the money! Factory used no gaskets there.

Rich

[Kevin G.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Old moment, I guess? lol

I owe one lunch! I'll throw in a beer or two as well!

[Terry M.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Kevin, If you're bet was about the exhaust manifolds to the heads.......you'd have won the money! Factory used no gaskets there.

Rich

It might be prudent to define the engine(s) you are talking about. When you get beyond the Gen I engines some used exhaust manifold to head gaskets. My Gen II LT-1s have exhaust manifold to head gaskets. I am not sure about the LS series, I would have to do some looking.

[Joe L.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

It might be prudent to define the engine(s) you are talking about. When you get beyond the Gen I engines some used exhaust manifold to head gaskets. My Gen II LT-1s have exhaust manifold to head gaskets. I am not sure about the LS series, I would have to do some looking.

Terry------



Even some Gen I small blocks used gaskets between the exhaust manifolds and head. These were 1980-82 with tubular steel manifolds and 1988-91 L-98. All 1992-96 Gen II LT1 and LT4 used exhaust manifold gaskets. Some 97+ LS-series engines also use exhaust manifold gaskets. However, no original 1955-79 Corvette small block or 1965-74 Corvette big block ever originally used exhaust manifold gaskets.

By the way, while no original Mark IV big block ever used exhaust manifold gaskets, gaskets were originally used on GM 8.1L big blocks, the last series of big blocks manufactured by GM. These were a multi-layer steel (MLS) design. When desired and with extremely minor modification, these can be used on Mark IV big blocks.

[Joe L.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

This question has come up elsewhere and I'm looking for the accurate information.
Lets start with the 71 model year only because that happens to be the car in question.

Did the factory install a gasket between these mating surfaces?
Or was it a metal to metal?

Was there different methods used for connecting small vs. big block heads to the block? Meaning one might use gaskets the other did not?

Thanks in advance,

Kevin------


ALL GM engines, small blocks, big blocks, 6 cylinder in-line, 6 cylinder V-type, and 4 cylinder engines use a head gasket (i.e. gasket between the head and the block)----every one ever made. In fact, I don't know of ANY water-cooled engine from any manufacturer that doesn't use a head gasket.

All Corvette small blocks and big blocks originally used a steel shim-type gasket except those with aluminum heads. A steel shim-type gasket is simply a thin sheet of steel with holes and embossments as required for the application.

Engines with aluminum heads used a composite-type gasket which is a multi-layer gasket with steel and organic layers.

By the way, in GM history of the last 50 years, or so, there have been two engine series that used an aluminum block and cast iron head. These engines also used a composite-type cylinder head gasket. The Chevrolet Vega was one. Does anyone know what the other was?

[Paul D.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Corvair? Just guessing. Chip.

[Steven B.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Buick small block with al block and heads, '61-63 I think were the years, later used in Rovers until recent.

[Joe L.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Corvair? Just guessing. Chip.

Paul-----


Corvair was an air-cooled engine. In any event, I believe that both the block and heads were aluminum, although I'm not 100% sure (never got into Corvairs).

[Joe L.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Buick small block with al block and heads, '61-63 I think were the years, later used in Rovers until recent.

Steven-----

The Buick small block you mention had both aluminum block and heads. I'm asking about an engine family besides Vega which used aluminum blocks and cast iron heads.

[Steven B.]

Re: Gasket between cylinder case and head?

Woops, I wasn't reading. The Cadillac 4.9 and 4.5 engines had Al blocks with iron heads IIRC. Steve