[4inthefloor]

i always run a 185 but a 195 should do you fine.... and unless you decked the block and shaved the heads with a 515 or better cam, id just go down to the autoparts and get a set of felpro head gaskets and have it running tommorow.......but im sure u didnt warp the heads i got my s10 with cast heads on a 355 up to 265 once and it never it them....good luck man

[Chevyfan16]

But my quench would be huge! And compression would go down a good amount. Thank you and damn 265!?

[4inthefloor]

lol yeah,, got home from the bar one night and passed out in the driveway with the motor running and i hadnt put any kind of fan on it yet, was fine in the wind with no hood on the truck at 25 degrees lol

[Mr. P-Body]

I would recommend against the shim gaskets. While the quench area may be a little "better" by being under .060", the quality and reliability of the "good" gaskets outweighs the little power increase. This is especially true with a street engine. We use Victor/Reinz, but Felpro is also very popular and probably "as good". We like the Victor because of the "look" (more like OEM fibre gaskets).

Over-heating a "fresh" engine can also come from a lean mixture (bad carb, vacuum leaks, etc.) or retarded ignition timing.

FWIW

Jim

[Chevyfan16]

Okay I'll use a different head gasket but what type? I know there's a bunch...mls?

[cdminter59]

You don't say what year 355 chevy you have. Check out these Cometic head gaskets. They are reusable and you use NO Sealer. If your pistons are .020 down in the cylinder a .027 thick head gasket will work fine. Typical quench is .040, .035 is used by racers but pistons could strike the head. These are multi-layer steel gaskets which all brands are similar in price. Here is the website: Cometic Gaskets C5245-027 Cometic Chevrolet Head Gaskets . You can also drill a 1/8 hole in the thermostat that will bleed air out of the system. On start up set initial timing at 12* and once everything is ok then fine tune it.

[Chevyfan16]

I decided to pull the other shim gasket out and replace both with victor reinz 5746 steel core with graphite faces on both sides. Compressed thickness of .026! I like the thermostat trick! I'm currently running a 195 should I change to a 185?

[cdminter59]

I wouldn't go below 180. The higher the temperature on the thermostat the longer the water stays in the radiator to cool. Good decision on the .026 head gaskets. Good luck

[Chevyfan16]

Cool thanks everybody! It'll be running this weekend I'll tell you how it goes!

[Chevyfan16]

Everythings back together and running awesome thanks!!

[John long]

I had no input into this thread but followed it closely. Glad it worked out for you.

John L

[Chevyfan16]

thank you....engine runs great now I have a thread going on the trans issue hahaha