Can somebody (NumberDummy) give me the part number for the head gaskets on my 352? They are a really thin steel gasket. I haven't been able to find them anywhere else.

 

Don't have a part number, but I'm almost certain that any auto store could order you one.

 

Any place that sells parts can get you one. The set below has everything you need and then some for a head gasket swap. Just the gaskets alone are $50, so $80 is a pretty decent deal for all of them.

Fel-Pro HS8554PT - Head Gasket Set | O'Reilly Auto Parts

I dont quite understand why people are looking for Ford part numbers on consumable items like gaskets, filters, etc. A quick search on Autozone, Orielly, Napa, RockAuto, or a call to the local store and you will have what you need. Yes, you could get the original OEM part from the dealer, but you will almost always pay more. Honestly, in this example, I will put my money on Felpro over anything Ford has ever made.

 

The original head gaskets are about .015" thick. I have used the Fel-Pro ones on other 390's and they are .045". The thinnest one I could find are .032" thick. The 352 is only about 9:1 compression ratio originally. A thicker head gasket would lower the compression ratio even more.

 

Also, greater quench can lead to easier detonation.

 

Use felpro perma torque blue gaskets. No need to use the steel as gasket tech has come a long way since then, unless you are a glutton for punishment and wish to deal with re-torqueing the steel gaskets?

Garbz

 

As previously posted, Fel-Pro's are 3 times thicker than original. They would drop my compression ratio to about 8.5:1. as far as torquing goes, how hard is it to remove 10 5/16" bolts and re-torque them? Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.

 

Are you running a cam with a lift of over .500? Its a 352 not a high strung 427. You will never notice the slight drop in CR from 8.9 to 1 to 8.5 to 1.

There is a reason the steel shims are hard to find as no one uses them any more except for really hard core racing crowd to set the quench distance and piston clearance and obtain the correct CCs for optimum power.

Is the .045 the gasket thickness before torquing on the fel pros? I have used them for years on all kinds of engines since 1977 and find that the assurance of it being right the first time and no blowouts due to the need to re-torque. .030 is pretty meaningless on the engine you have.

Garbz




If are really concerned check the deck and head surface as the engine has probably been apart and the heads shaved possibly .015 as normal to to obtain a clean surface.

 

The motor has never been apart. The Fel-Pro's are actually .046" after they are torqued. When I rebuild it I will probably use a 260H grind. It has about .485" of lift.

As for nobody using them, for some reason I can't recall I used thin steel ones on my SBC. Knock on wood they haven't given me any trouble. Yet.

 

I gave up on steel head gaskets and switched to composite after pulling the TA heads on my AAR. Did all the re-torque to specs and still had the rear water passages fail on the outboard rear bolts. Switched to the perma torques and never have popped one since. Some cheap victor sets for mouse and rats still have the steel shim gasket. Most have a partial composite where the water passage areas have additional added silicone beads. I still have a can of copper coat for steel head gaskets in the shelf. I have not used it or Permatex gorilla snot in a while.

With the cam you mention you may be running 250 to 275 horse and it will not need the compression that a taller bumpstick will require. Remember the 352 is a short stroke big block @3.5x 4.00 inches.8.5 to 1 is about ideal for today's pump gas as it will still provide decent power with less tendency to ping.

Garbz

 

1965/67 F100/350 352 / 1968/76 F100/350 360/390 / 1965/71 Passenger Car 352/390

C6AZ-6051-A .. Steel Head Gasket / Obsolete

102 available NOS, but the closest source to MT that has at least 2 is in KS

 

Green auto sales has 6. I have some other parts I need from them.

 

Haven Ford in Haven KS (620-465-2252) has two and will be one heck of a lot cheaper than Green Sales.

Green Sales is not a car dealer, they're an obsolete parts vendor that has the largest stock of NOS obsolete Ford parts on the planet.

I've been buying parts from Green Sales for over 50 years, longer than most FTE members have been alive.

 

OK, that sounds good.