[71chevy]

In the process of rebuilding 350 chevy, have gotten some great advise from this forum so far. Now looking at head gaskets. Motor has been bored .060 making it 4.060, so do I look for a gasket with a bore of 4.060 or larger? and how much larger? Also gasket thickness, I know I read an article on "quench" but have not been able to find it again. Anyone know how to find it or what equation to use to get the right gasket thickness?

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

Standard rebuild gaskets allow for a +.080 for most SBC's. Fel-Pro and others list bore sizes in their gasket specs.

[techinspector1]

Squish might also accurately be called Piston To Head Clearance. Although there are those who would say that it can be wider, a generally accepted figure is 0.035" to 0.045" with the piston at top dead center. It is computed by adding together the piston deck height (piston crown to block deck measurement with the piston at TDC) and the gasket thickness. The thinner the gasket you use, the less material will have to be removed from the block decks to arrive at the squish you want. Let's say for instance, that you wanted to use a squish of 0.040". Choosing a Victor Reinz #5746 gasket with dimensions of 4.100" X 0.025" would allow a piston deck height of 0.015" to achieve your target squish. The diameter of the gasket would work well with the 4.060" bore also and would probably be the exact same size as the bore if you measure the bore right at the very top of the block at the chamfer.

[opelitis5]

Hope I am not hijacking this thread, but, maybe adding to it??? I have a set of FelPro head gaskets hanging around that have the extra holes in 'em for 400 heads/engines with 4.125 bores.. Can I use these head gaskets on a 350ci. std bore 4.00 engine with regular 350 heads i.e. NO steam holes??
Thanks!!

[ericnova72]

Yes, you can use those gaskets on a 350.

[cobalt327]

Also, you can use a 400 head w/steam holes on a non drilled block by using head gaskets w/o steam holes in them.

[opelitis5]

Thanks Cobalt + Eric..
T.

[ericnova72]

Cobalt, you can also use steam hole head and steam hole gasket on non-steam hole block.... the passage is blocked regardless when there are no holes in the block itself(sure you know this, just clarifying for others)

[cobalt327]

No, I did not know that. Always heard what I posted above,

Thanks for the clarification!