Most of us, I would assume, are using the composite head gaskets these days. However, for those of you that use the steel shim head gaskets and gain a little extra compression, what brand are you running? I would imagine that an NOS pair would be fine right since they are steel gaskets?

Also, does anyone know if Ford manufactured different steel gaskets for the Y block once the 239 got started? Most of the time I see composite gaskets that are after market manufactured for the Y block in general...

working on the 312 build

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Daniel, as for as I know, no one is producing the steel shim gaskets anymore.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Try Dennis Carpenter for NOS gaskets.

  

Daniel:

Ford used the first Y gaskets for the 239. Then they offered one for a 239 with the "replacement" head (can you say '55 head?). Then came the 272-292 gasket, and with the 312 arriving in '56 came a 312 gasket. Then in '61 they replaced them all with a 292 gasket. That's why gasket overhang into the bore became a problem with 312s bored .030 or more. Then came Best with a big bore gasket. Hooray!

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Dan, here's a picture of steel gaskets. I have them laying for the passenger side. The 239 early version is on the bottom.

Do you see the different water passages?

  Dennis in Lititz PA

carpenter has them for 10 bucks.still lots of them around.

@Dennis - thanks for that picture - its worth a thousand words!

thanks for the lead on Carpenter too.

My 312 build is .030 over 312 so I guess that overhang will get me.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

That top one doesnt appear to have the square corner mormally installed to the front. It has a somewhat squarer corner at the bottom right but isnt it normally at the top like the bottom one?

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

FWIW, I recently used steel shims from Carpenter on my fresh .060 over 312. Even with a liberal dose of copper coat and 3-stage torquing they leaked like a seive on one side. The heads & deck checked square & flat. I went back with composites and no troubles.

BrodieSavannah, GA

ive seen the steel ones before with both corners rounded.