I read somewhere (BTR's book?) about reusing factory head gaskets.
Anyone do this?

I'm not comfortable doing it. Just curious. Cleaning the shop and ran across a couple that didn't make it to the round file.

Also is the turkey tray a one use deal?

 

My take is once you crush the embossed sealing part of the gasket it's done, a one time use. So that would be stock shim type head gaskets and turkey tray type gaskets.
Considering how cheap they are why take the risk, just buy a new one.

 

To much work involved to try to save a couple bucks .....round file for sure ..... and as stated prior "the crush factor" seals the deal or I guess doesn't in this case

 

What you need is some pancake batter...

 

haha

we were just talking about that episode at work the other day

 

Yeah +2 for what they said, why would you want to skip on putting new in. chances are if you put used head gaskets in it WILL leak into the cylinder, and we all know that is bad.

Use NEW head gaskets and don't forget to torque to right spec and proper sequence.

_Luke_

 

Not for me, like I said. I'm not doing it. Before I tossed them I thought if somebody wanted them?
Sure don't look like it!

I bought Mr. Gasket for my build.

 

CLASSIC

I loved the Green Acres series- crazy good humor, and not naughty.

Hoyt-Clagwell tractor...

Remember when Eb suped it up, and "Olivuh" got a speeding ticket?

 

Head gaskets aren't something to take a chance on, considering all the work involed to replace leaky ones. When I built my last engine, used Fel-Pro Blue gaskets, with a light coat of Permatex copper spray(recommeded by the machine shop). No leaks yet. I also liked some of the older tv shows, and hear Eddie Albert lived to be 99 years old.

 

Cometics can be reused. They are multi-layer-steel.

 

I have heard of glass beading the factory steel head gaskets and reusing them. I have not personally known anyone who has done this. I think they are 0.019 thick. The small gain of compression has never been that important vs taking a chance on a leaking head gasket. Serious drag racers may chime in on this and maybe one has tried it with success. Ken

 

Like I said Cometics can be reused. I used one set 3 times when my iron heads were imitating a sprinkler system. Just replaced the last set, they do cost a little over $200 but are custom made and are MLS. They make them to your specs (bore, thickness, bolt/stud size) They can be had .021 or .024" thick. You have to have the right texture surface tho.

 

380 Racer, why did the Cometic's leak the first two times? I ask because I have a set going on my engine soon

 

One for the money.
Two for the show.
Three to get ready - car won't go

 

Trip, the gaskets didn't leak.........the iron heads did from too much porting........walls too thin.
The last gaskets (with the RR heads) were used twice and we decided to change them "just in case" since we had the heads off. You will like them .

Take a look over on HPO in the Anything Goes section at a thread I started about Greg's Performance. I was not a happy camper.

 

??????

 

Sorta like reusing protection if you know what I mean.

 

I was referring to factory steel shim head gaskets being reused. As I said, I've "heard" they can be glass beaded and reused. Maybe my memory is off. Anyone else tried/heard this. Ken

 

lol

 

 

I'll quote
RICKY BOBBY

"I really regret opening my mouth and talking to you."

 

X2 Kenny, heard that from some old timers long ago, course they may have been talking from a 'Depression' point of view. Never ever throw anything away, reuse-reuse-reuse.

 

I've been thinking about who told me that, it was a Chevy Guy. As we all know, with a Chevrolet engine one can get away with anything. Sorry nobody could put this myth to rest one way or the other. Ken

 

I have reused the oem steel gaskets several times,no problems.I did so to not lose any compression. I would not do this on an expensive rebuild though.

 

It was BTR's book "How to Build Max-Performance Oldsmobile V-8's"

Don't matter, went to China w/ my old gutters and such.

 

I've done it once and it worked out fine on a BBC. But the heads and block were machined and it was fresh and un fired. I had an issue with something and had to pull the head. I put it back on and went an extra 5 pounds n the torque.

 

And the part everyone in this thread seems to have left out is the use of a soft copper wire as an O-ring. Still not something I'd waste my time on. If you're worried about losing a little CR due to thicker gaskets, mill the heads to make up the difference in gasket compressed height.