Head Gasket


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By yehaabill - 15 Years Ago
Y-Guys:    Quick question; when installing the head gaskets, there are two

           passages on the front that are blocked off. I read John's installation

           pointers and he says that is the correct.

               My question, would it help or hinder if I opened these passages?

           My engine deck had a .0015 low spot next to one of the water passages

           above #1 (I think it was!). The block was decked at the machine shop

           before assembly but Reed(my son) said it looks as if it didn't "clear up"

           and the machinst missed it! It "blew" the gasket there.

                I'm tearing it back down to get it re-decked at another shop.

                I was just wondering about the blocked passages....

                                              Bill

By charliemccraney - 15 Years Ago
If it's on the wrong way, it'll cause cooling problems.
By yehaabill - 15 Years Ago
Charlie:      The "square" corners were at the top next to the intake.

          John says that's correct. What I'm seeing on the old gasket

          is marks of rusty water on both side of the gasket where those

          passages have it blocked. John says the "open" holes go to the

          rear and closed to the front.(that's where I had them) I'm

          not saying the gasket "blew" because of it(the deck had a low spot)

          I just wondered why these passages would be blocked off!!!

                                        Bill

By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago
Bill:

My take on the subject is that if those holes were opened, the water would take the path of least resistance and circulate principally in the front, thereby causing the rear of the block and heads to run hotter.  My 2 cents.

By aussiebill - 15 Years Ago
Hoosier Hurricane (6/13/2010)
Bill:

My take on the subject is that if those holes were opened, the water would take the path of least resistance and circulate principally in the front, thereby causing the rear of the block and heads to run hotter.  My 2 cents.

John, add another .02 cents worth to that! Tongue

By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago
Bill:

Wow!  This is just like an auction.  We are up to .04 already.  But I wonder who gets all the money when the bidding stops?

By Bob's 55 - 15 Years Ago
Just curious, why are the holes there in both the block and head if they are blocked off with the gasket?
By paul2748 - 15 Years Ago
Bob's 55 (6/13/2010)
Just curious, why are the holes there in both the block and head if they are blocked off with the gasket?




Maybe ford found out that what John says was true and decided to fix it with just the head gasket????
By aussiebill - 15 Years Ago
paul2748 (6/13/2010)
Bob's 55 (6/13/2010)
Just curious, why are the holes there in both the block and head if they are blocked off with the gasket?


Maybe ford found out that what John says was true and decided to fix it with just the head gasket????

Only guessing it would in the casting procedure?

By Ted - 15 Years Ago
Those blocked passages at the front of the head gasket assist in forcing the coolant further along into the cylinder block before allowing the coolant to go back into the heads.  The FE and small block Ford engines are also designed similarly.  John is right in that if the passages in the Y head gasket are opened up so water coolant goes straight to the cylinder head at the front of the engine, then the back of the engine fails to get sufficient coolant recirculated and the engine subsequently slowly overheats regardless of how good the radiator is.

Bob's 55 (6/13/2010)
Just curious, why are the holes there in both the block and head if they are blocked off with the gasket?

The cylinder heads do not have blocked passages at one end as that would make the heads specific to the left or right side.  Aussiebill’s guess that the block is open at the front due to casting considerations is as good a reason as any and very likely correct.  But assuming the block could have been cast without the coolant passages at the front, then the head gasket could be used without consideration for a front or rear of the gasket providing provisions for two mirrored holes were in the gasket to insure a supply of oil to the topend regardless of which way the gasket was installed.

By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago
Pegleg may jump in here about the holes possibly being used for support of the cores when casting the block.
By John Mummert - 15 Years Ago
John, you're correct, as usual. Many of the penetrations you see in the block and head deck surfaces are strictly there to support the sand cores while the part is being cast. That's why the early heads had core plugs in the ends. Just there to support the core.

If you look at a lot of later Ford heads (302 ect) you'll see pipe plugs near the valve springs. There were pentrations there to keep the sand core from floating. When the head is machined they are drilled and tapped and plugs installed