Ok folks there is threads about a few different head gaskets on here but I don't see anyone talking about the head gaskets they use and why. Lets say you are building a 383 chevy with 10 to 1 compression. The heads and deck surfaces are within .003". What head gasket do you think is the best and why? What head gasket has never given you a problem and is there any thing special you do to the gasket when installing it?

I have always used Felpro blue, put on dry and never re-torqued and never had a problem.

Mark

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Same here, Fel Pro Blue, standard thickness, installed dry. Be sure both mating surfaces are perfectly smooth, clean, and dry. Chase and clean the threads in the block and the bolts if reusing old bolts. Lightly oil the bolt threads before installing them. Tighten the bolts in 3 steps using the manufacturers torque specs and order.

Just in case you need a third opinion....Im with Jmark and ernkazern. I have used the same gaskets installed the same way on many SBC builds and have never had a problem.

I've just put together a wiki article on the subject of head gaskets: Head gasket. I got the idea from the title of this thread. This subject gets discussed a lot, so we might as well set up a centralized article on it.

Feel free to add to or edit the article. Just click the "edit" tab at the top of the page, or one of the "edit" links in a section. You can edit anonymously, without registering a wiki username, but if you register, your "Wiki Edits" count below your post count will increase as you edit.

We could also use some pics for the article. The various different kinds of head gaskets, a blown head gasket, and some pics of telltale blown head gasket signs: milkshake oil, foamy coolant, etc. If you have those pics, or can take them, click here to upload them to the wiki.

Here it is again: Head gasket.

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felpro all the way. Spend the money

Victor-Reinz here. Light coating with K&W copper coat. let set-up abour 10 min & assemble. Before the flaming begins....I KNOW what the isntallation instructions say. Learned this procedure from a very talanted engine builder about 20 years ago, never had a problem.

For a street engine from stock to well hopped up GM gaskets are plenty fine and then some.

Bracket racing I use Fel Pro. Beyond that copper and O rings, but this is for really serious engines and is expensive overkill on the street.

I put gaskets down with a light oil or grease like petroleum jelly on both sides or with dry graphite (unless the gasket already uses a self lube coating, this allows the all the parts to move around smoothly while tightening things down so the material doesn't get pinched.

I always torque down in 5 or 6 sequences cycle the engine cold to hot to cold again and re-torque the bolts.

Always follow the manufacturers recommendations on thread condition. All threads are chased with a chaser not taps or dies, this is especially important on the bolts as they are rolled not cut threads and a die will change their quality.

Bogie

Felpro 1010 on my flat top 355 with small pills in the nitrous. Never an issue.

Fel-Pro, but the blue ones won't hold on anything much over a stock rebuild, got to step up a little.Stock Gm shims are great if the heads and block are properly machined.