Can I use a steel shim gasket with aluminum heads?
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 1
From: W. Kentucky
Car: 83 Z-28
Engine: 406
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.70
Can I use a steel shim gasket with aluminum heads?
I want to boost the compression up a little so I am wondering about the steel shim gaskets on my afr's.
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 4
From: orlando, fl usa
Car: 1986 pontiac TA
Engine: 360 HSR
Transmission: 700r4 3300 yank converter
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
well you can get a GM head gasket that's .028" thick and says will work on aluminum heads. GM10105117
Supreme Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,111
Likes: 53
From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1988 Firebird S/E
Engine: 406Ci Vortec SBC
Transmission: TH-350/3500stall
Axle/Gears: 7.5" Auburn 4.10 Posi-Traction
The felpro version is .015" thick and has a black coating on it.
They will work.
Over time you may get some electrolytic action (corrosion)
between the two dissimular metals with this gasket.
How long it will take,,, don't know. Years?
The aluminum heads expand and move around more on the block than cast iron heads. I would retorque the head bolts after a few heat/cycles.
I have used these head gaskets many times. Never had one fail.
ever NOS 12.65:1 compression detonation, broken pistons
BB. SB.
never had a shim head gasket fail.
The difference in thickness bumps the cr up about .5 of a ratio.
They will work.
Over time you may get some electrolytic action (corrosion)
between the two dissimular metals with this gasket.
How long it will take,,, don't know. Years?
The aluminum heads expand and move around more on the block than cast iron heads. I would retorque the head bolts after a few heat/cycles.
I have used these head gaskets many times. Never had one fail.
ever NOS 12.65:1 compression detonation, broken pistons
BB. SB.
never had a shim head gasket fail.
The difference in thickness bumps the cr up about .5 of a ratio.
Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 344
Likes: 3
From: Panama City, Fl
Car: '89 Formula, '97 Z28, '88 Formula 350
Engine: 305 TBI(LO3)
Transmission: TH700R4(MD8)
This is a common thing done on the LT1's. You can use the Impala SS gasket(which is for iron heads) on the aluminum headed Camaro's & Firebird's.
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 4
From: orlando, fl usa
Car: 1986 pontiac TA
Engine: 360 HSR
Transmission: 700r4 3300 yank converter
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Originally posted by F-BIRD'88
The felpro version is .015" thick and has a black coating on it.
They will work.
Over time you may get some electrolytic action (corrosion)
between the two dissimular metals with this gasket.
How long it will take,,, don't know. Years?
The aluminum heads expand and move around more on the block than cast iron heads. I would retorque the head bolts after a few heat/cycles.
I have used these head gaskets many times. Never had one fail.
ever NOS 12.65:1 compression detonation, broken pistons
BB. SB.
never had a shim head gasket fail.
The difference in thickness bumps the cr up about .5 of a ratio.
The felpro version is .015" thick and has a black coating on it.
They will work.
Over time you may get some electrolytic action (corrosion)
between the two dissimular metals with this gasket.
How long it will take,,, don't know. Years?
The aluminum heads expand and move around more on the block than cast iron heads. I would retorque the head bolts after a few heat/cycles.
I have used these head gaskets many times. Never had one fail.
ever NOS 12.65:1 compression detonation, broken pistons
BB. SB.
never had a shim head gasket fail.
The difference in thickness bumps the cr up about .5 of a ratio.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 1
From: W. Kentucky
Car: 83 Z-28
Engine: 406
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.70
Well, I just want to use these gaskets for about a month or so on my 350 because I just blew up my 406. The pistons in the 350 are domes and with a .039 gasket and 64 cc chambers it's supposed to be 10.9:1. Now I'm going to use the afr 195's with 74 cc chambers. I would like to be at least 10.5 on the 350.
What would going from 64 to 74 make this?
What is the thickness on the LT1 gaskets? Could I just go to Autozone tonight and get some? Chevypower, Are you saying that I could go get gaskets for the Impala SS and they would work fine? Oh, Are the Impala gaskets thinner than .039?
What would going from 64 to 74 make this?
What is the thickness on the LT1 gaskets? Could I just go to Autozone tonight and get some? Chevypower, Are you saying that I could go get gaskets for the Impala SS and they would work fine? Oh, Are the Impala gaskets thinner than .039?
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Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 4
From: orlando, fl usa
Car: 1986 pontiac TA
Engine: 360 HSR
Transmission: 700r4 3300 yank converter
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
the lt1 head gaskets won't work. unless you have an lt1 motor. way different water ports.
Supreme Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,111
Likes: 53
From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1988 Firebird S/E
Engine: 406Ci Vortec SBC
Transmission: TH-350/3500stall
Axle/Gears: 7.5" Auburn 4.10 Posi-Traction
If your AFR heads are Brinelled (indented) by the outline of the fire ring on the 400 gaskets then they may not seal up
Unless you resurface them.
Check the deck surface first.
Unless you resurface them.
Check the deck surface first.
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