Head Gasket?
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From: Piney Point Shores, Md
Not sure about the term "Steel Shim", but I just picked up a set of Felpro head gaskets for a 90 351w and they looked pretty traditional with the steel re-enforcing around each cylinder top. I have seen "High Proformace" Hd Gaskets advertised guarenteed not to blow, probably heavier steel in that area.
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From: CA
Steel shim gaskets are just that, a stamped peice of steel usually around .020" thick. They can be used to raise compression half a point without milling. They are commonly made for Chevy and Mopar, and even big block Fords, but I can't find them for small blocks.
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From: Calhoun GA
Originally Posted by SVTCobra306
Fel Pro 1011's are the steel re-enforced graphite HG's. FRPP lists them as "Severe Duty"....
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From: Calhoun GA
Originally Posted by Polkat
Steel shim gaskets are just that, a stamped peice of steel usually around .020" thick. They can be used to raise compression half a point without milling. They are commonly made for Chevy and Mopar, and even big block Fords, but I can't find them for small blocks.
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I'm sure Fel-pro makes them, but there are so many better ways to lower your compression. They also make the gaskets in different thicknesses, most are .039-.041 thick but I think they make a .060. What are you building to need them?
Plus, if you blow the Severe Duty's, you have detonation. If you have detonation and fix it with Loc-wires or cometics, you're just gonna break something else that's more expensive than a 30 dollar pair of HG's.
SmecoMark1 loc-wires are Fel-pro's name for their head gaskets that require a groove to be machined in the head and block deck surfaces to "Lock" the combustion in. Typically you'll break a piston before blowing one. I'd rather blow the gasket personally.
Plus, if you blow the Severe Duty's, you have detonation. If you have detonation and fix it with Loc-wires or cometics, you're just gonna break something else that's more expensive than a 30 dollar pair of HG's.
SmecoMark1 loc-wires are Fel-pro's name for their head gaskets that require a groove to be machined in the head and block deck surfaces to "Lock" the combustion in. Typically you'll break a piston before blowing one. I'd rather blow the gasket personally.
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From: CA
Well, the idea is that a steel shim gasket at .020" compressed will 'raise' compression about 1/2 a point over the stock gasket (the original 'blueprint' Ford gasket compressed to .036"). That's what I want to do without milling the heads. I have done this successfully on Mopars, but can't find such a gasket for small block Fords.