Who knew that Olds motors didn't ship with exhaust gaskets? I know that you experts will get a kick out of this...but I am still somewhat mind blown.

I am (was) a factory trained VW and Hyundai tech. All of the vehicles that I ever wrenched on professionally had aluminum heads if not aluminum blocks, too. The cars I toyed around with were Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, etc. There were simply always exhaust gaskets and you ALWAYS replaced them when you removed the heads. I've built 3 V8's in my life, and since they always got headers, there were always gaskets used. Even the 455 Olds in my motorhome had gaskets when I got it, so I ordered new ones and replaced them when they leaked.
I was very surprised to learn that many/most GM motors with steel blocks and heads shipped with no exhaust gaskets. I only learned this after looking for the gasket after removing my manifold and there was none. So -- Google - and, wow!

I actually love the logic that mated, machined steel surfaces seal very well, and have/did for many years on (millions/hundreds-of-thousands?) GM vehicles. What I also love is that I never conceived that it could be -- because of my training and perspective.

It's the learning that I'm really enjoying, here! What have y'all learned here the might seem like basic, common knowledge?

 

Anyone that's read one of Joe P's responses to the question the last 100 times it's been asked....lol

 

You also have to remember a lot of us knew because we have been working on these old cars for 50 years. Note, I usually will install a gasket if I do a repair because the surfaces are not usually flat anymore.

 

Indeed - Joe P's threads were among top result(s) in Google searches!

That is really my point. This is the true value of this forum - tribal knowledge. I grew up in a different tribe. Ignorance (and wisdom) is relative .