Hi, I was preassembling my 292 last night, the pistons are .040 down in the hole, can I take .040 off the deck safely? Will the intake manifold need to be cut if I take .040 off the block? I already took .025 off the heads. The block is a C2AE, if that matters. I have a set of Fel-Pro and a set of Best head gaskets, is one brand better than the other?

Thanks

Yes. The deck can be safely cut but you’ll likely need to cut the intake for a proper fit.  The amount the heads are cut is a non-event as you are going back with composition gaskets versus the original steel shim so there’s not an intake fit problem from the head gasket change in conjunction with the head milling.  But deck milling will likely require some intake manifold cutting.

 

Use either brand of head gasket in your case.  The FelPro’s will tend to be a problem on the larger bores and as such, will give trouble when detonation is evident.  The FelPro gaskets will require no sealer but I've been using the spray on CopperCoat on the Best Gasket head gaskets.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks Ted