I am currently in the process of putting my engine back together after a rebuild. My current set-up is going to be 390 .060 over, comp 268h cam, headers, dual exhaust, edelbrock performer intake and edelbrock 750 cfm performer carb. I currently have the fel-pro gasket set I am using. It also came with a head gasket. I have heard that many people do not like the fel-pro head gaskets as they are too thick and lower compression. Instead everyone seems to prefer the .021 steel shim. I am thinking about purchasing a steel shim, but was wondering about the reliablity of them. When coated with the copper spray, will the steel shim be just as reliable as the fel-pro? I would like to use the steel shim, but don't want it to leak. Anyone have any feedback? Thanks

 

Well the factory uses them, if that tells you anything. Just make sure your heads and block are both flat or you can run into problems.

When used and installed properly in the correct application, they work real good.

 

That sounds like a plan. I was leaning towards the steel shim as I do not want to take compression away. My heads and block just came back from the machine shop. The heads were plained and the block was checked. Will any copper spray work fine? Also on summit.com it says the Mr. Gasket steel shim will only work on upto a '71 - 390. Believe mine is a '74. Will it still work?

 

Also will it make a difference if my 390 is .060 over?

 

Copper spray is fine. A 74 block will not make any difference either. I'm guessing you have iron heads which are fine with the steel shim gaskets. You can also install them dry. Some of the old 427 steel gaskets wicked coolant through them on the deck and were installed dry. I use acetone or lacquer thinner to clean everything first. I start at 20 ft lbs and go up in 5 ft lb increments to 95 ft lbs. Go over them again and call it good.

G.

 

Yup, I've got the iron heads that were just plained and cleaned at the machine shop. I plan on trying to fine a steel shim today and picking up some copper spray.

 

No luck at all finding the steel shim. The earliest I can probably get it will be like late Feb early March. I don't really want to leave my engine apart that long so I am going to just use the fel-pro I bought. Oh Well

 

Order the steely's up, and once they come in, take some time on a saturday and swap them out. This will also give you enought time to try out the fel-blows and give you a comparison.

 

you can overnight the steel shim head gaskets from Summit. They're $20.99 for a pair. I think they charged me $15 for overnight and I had a couple of other items as well. If you really want the steel shim gaskets I'd get them now and not have to tear into the engine again.

Good Luck!

Tracy

 

Ya the whole thing with that is Summit is also sold out. They said they won't ship until the 7th of Feb, which kinda sucks. Otherwise I may just as well had them overnight.

 

DSC might have them in stock.

G.

 

check www.mrgasket.com. They show several distributors. I checked JEGS and they show having them although you might want to call and verify. Their part # is 720-1132. I'll bet you can find these somewhere without too much trouble.

Good Luck!

Tracy