Okay, I've been looking around at various head gaskets and I'd like to be able to buy them from a local parts store. Autozone carries some Felpro composite ones but those are probably very thick.

Then I saw that they had some Felpro .020" thick "dead soft copper shims" to restore the "machined-away" thickness of the block/head. Can these copper "shims" be used by themselves as head gaskets, and are there any negatives to this? The aluminum heads will be decked before installation. I belive the price was about $25/each.

 

I'm no sure about those, but i do know that there are several copper head gaskets out there that have been used for decades, so...

FWIW i was going to use some Mildon copper HG's on my 383 project, but i'm not going 383 anymore.

The only thing is that your supposed to coat them with hylomar sealant.

Oh yeah copper head gasket are reusable for upto 6 times.

 

Get ahold of some COMETIC head gaskets, any size you need..
very pricey though...

 

If those are really expensive, I'd just as soon buy a standard head gasket.

The reason I was thinking the copper shim may work is because it says it can be used on either surface, so I figured it should work with both surfaces

Not sure I know what hylomar sealant is. What exactly is that?

 

Hylomar--A non-hardening, polyurethane based compound used as gasket maker, gasket dressing and thread sealant. Impervious to gas, oil or any automotive fluid.

Features

* Non hardening and non setting
* Unlimited assembly time
* Vibration resistant
* Allows metal to metal contact
* Resistant to combustion products, water, engine coolant, petroleum, lubricating oils, kerosene and fluorocarbon refrigerants
* Seals surface imperfections
* Withstands rapid variations in temperature
* Flame, dust and moisture proofing properties

 

Hmmm cool stuff.

So does anyone know if these copper shims can be used by themselves as a head gasket?