I'm about to install my head with a .015 shim gasket from felpro. If you look at the gasket from one side, the word "felpro" and the part number are both right-side-up and there is a raised ridge all around every hole the gasket is supposed to seal. If you turn it so the felpro is backwards (orplef), there is a valley around every hole the gasket is supposed to seal. Which way should be facing the head? The raised ridge or the valley? I assume that the raised ridge faces the head, but i wanted to be sure

cheers

 

I installed mine "felpro" with no problems.
You may want to use copper spray-a-gasket on both sides of the shim for extra sealing qualities.

 

yeah - thanks - my block and heads are smooth within 30 microns or w/e it was measured in - wont need the spray gasket - but i do have some of it and an extra set of gaskets just in case

 

I allways put the gasket up. where you can read felpro as you look down. You can not put a small block head gasket on upside down. It will run either way.

 

Always install the gaskets so you can read the words.

 

hey guys, i was just about to buy this .015 Felpro 1094 and i noticed it says it has a 4.10" Bore, what the hell! aint the 305 a 3.736" bore?

anybody to clear that up for me? would be great, thank you!

 

Doesn't matter ownor. The bore of the gasket is always larger then the cyl bore.
Usually a 350 chev gasket has a 4.166" bore too... one size fits all sorta thing.

 

Right.
If you get that gasket, it'd be a good idea to spray both sides of it with copper spray-a-gasket adhesive.

 

yep okay, thanks for your replies! so i guess i'm going to get that one to bump the CR a bit - oh one more question, does the HG's bore size also contribute to a change in CR or is it really just the compressed thickness?

 

I've never seen the HG bore size taken into consideration.

 

Gasket bore diameter is taken into consideration in calculating CR. It's apparently important enough for them to include it on the Keith Black compression ratio calculator web page.

http://kb-silvolite.com/calc.php?action=comp

 

bore size and thinkness are added into CR on the gaskets

 

Yes the bore size of the gasket matters (if you want accurate math)

I always install this gasket clean and dry on a clean and dry block deck.
No spray, goop or sealer of any kind.

Never had one fail even with over 12:1 cr.

If you want to do something that will contribute to a better head gasket seal, buy a new set of head bolts.

 

I always installed clean and dry as well.
Several people on here suggested to me to use the spray due to that gasket being such a thin shim gasket. I've had no problems with the spray on this particular gasket.