I have some pricey .015 steel shim Fel Pro's I just pulled off my firebird....and I'm about to do a head swap on my buddies firebird, could I use my head gaskets on his car to make things a tad cheaper? They look good except they need to be cleaned. I was gonna apply so more head gasket sealer spray too.

 

I've had friends use their old steel shim gaskets with no problem, but for the small price, its worth the piece of mind to install new ones.

 

I wouldn't recommend it--a lot of damage can be caused by a blown head gasket--It's not worth the risk!

 

NO.

And i don't think you really feel like doing the job twice.

IMO, buy a new set & give yourself peace of mind.

 

Absolutely not, if they're steel-shim ones. All the stamped patterns in them are now flattened, so they have no chance whatsoever of sealing again. When you pull them out you'll probably also find that they're leaking like they always do. Frankly I don't know why anyone would ever use them, the "theoretical" compression isn't worth their "real world" dysfunction.

Decent gaskets like Fel-Pro blue ones sometimes can be re-used in a pinch. It's not something you should ever do unless you are really desparate, or you just enjoy pulling heads off.

 

why would you want to risk it. if the cost 500 dollars i'd still trash them to keep from going through the hassel of fixing a leak

 

The compressed thickness of the material will decrease, thus increasing the compression. The risk of detonation and blowing it, is not worth the risk, or $30 in gaskets.