Nominations for improved cooling head gasket

[fcwrangler]

Hi Harv, payment done.
Regards,
Jim

[Crumpsnr]

Payment sent Harv.

Many thanks,

Martyn (CrumpSnr)

[Harv]

Ladies and gents,

A quick update. AA Gaskets has completed the tooling, and sent me a tooling sample on Monday. The image below shows a NOS GMH “better cooling” gasket, and a new AA Gaskets “better cooling” gasket:


(Rob: they have taken good care of your gasket, need to return it to you at some stage â€" very much appreciated).

For comparison, the photo below shows a new AA Gaskets “better cooling” gasket and a AA Gaskets standard grey motor gasket:


To help reconcile which holes are which, shown below is a bare cylinder head:


I did some comparisons (old, new and new “better cooling”), and the new gasket looks great. Have signed off on the sample, and will now pay AA to commence our run.

Cheers,
Harv

[FCRB26]

Awesome stuff harv they looked fantastic..

[ardiesse]

Harv,

Interesting - it looks like AA Gaskets has made completely new tooling for the repro 7424869.  Comparing the holes on the standard head gasket, and their counterparts on the 7424869, the holes on the 7424869 are different, and smaller.

So they've made as close as possible to an exact copy of the 7424869, rather than removing twelve punch-and-die sets from the standard grey head gasket tooling.

I am impressed.

One question though - what's the maximum bore diameter usable on the sample 7424869?  3-3/16"?  3-1/4"?

Rob

[Harv]

Harv,

Interesting - it looks like AA Gaskets has made completely new tooling for the repro 7424869.  Comparing the holes on the standard head gasket, and their counterparts on the 7424869, the holes on the 7424869 are different, and smaller.

So they've made as close as possible to an exact copy of the 7424869, rather than removing twelve punch-and-die sets from the standard grey head gasket tooling.

I am impressed.

One question though - what's the maximum bore diameter usable on the sample 7424869?  3-3/16"?  3-1/4"?

Rob

I was impressed with the quality too.

I didn't record the bore size, but did run the caliper over both the NOS "better cooling" one, the new AA Gasket "better cooling" one and a new standard AA gasket - all had the same bore shape/dimensions.

[fastjbav6]

It's been more than a few years since I've replaced a head gasket, which leads me into the next question.
Will the gasket be marked front and back or top and bottom?
The reason I ask is that the last time I did a grey head gasket, it was interchangeable.
The raised bead around the cylinder bore holes on the gasket are joined between the cylinders as shown in the new gasket and was face up when installed from memory, This was to prevent a blown gasket between combustion chambers/cylinders.
Can anyone confirm this?
The two gaskets that are shown for comparison, only shows the one side with the single raised bead around each cylinder bore hole.
The gasket imprint on the cylinder head shown shows the raised bead join between the combustion chamber, indicating the way the new gasket is shown in the photo is the correct way up when installed.

Regards Seb

[fastjbav6]

Can someone copy and paste my above post re: gasket, on the FB-EK Forum please?
The site is not responding.

Regards Seb

[Harv]

Your right Seb, the grey head gaskets can be put on one way, or upside down. For the new gaskets, this will make a big difference, as the water holes are no longer mirror imaged. Put it on the wrong way, and the water flow will be affected.

I will include a note in the paperwork (perhaps a little sketch) showing which way goes to the front.

Cheers,
Harv

[Harv]

Ladies and Gents,

A quick update. The run of gaskets have nearly been completed, with an anticipated delivery to me late next week (~23rd of June). Plan to get them out to you all in the fortnight following.

Cheers,
Harv

[Maco]

Hi Harv,

Thanks for the update, look forward to receiving them.
Cheers
John

[KFH]

Thanks for the update Harv. Looking forward to seeing them.

Keith

[FX1975]

Great

[Harv]

Ladies and Gents,

I have received the new grey motor improved cooling head gaskets from AA Gaskets, which look really good. They have been individually packaged (similar to how you would buy a normal head gasket from Repco), which will make them easy to store. I have printed out both the excerpt from the Accelerator article (which gives a how-to on installation), and a warning note. The warning note indicates the following:

WARNING
The standard grey motor head gasket is able to be turned upside down. The holes in the standard gasket are mirrored â€" one end has the same holes as the other end. Turning the standard gasket upside down does not affect coolant flow.
This new gasket is not mirrored â€" the holes are different in each end. The end closest to the rear of the engine has more holes, to direct coolant to the rear of the engine. The end closest to the front of the engine has less holes to prevent cylinder 1 stealing all the coolant. This new gasket can only be put onto the engine one way.
If you accidently put the new gasket on upside down, almost all the coolant will flow to cylinders 1 and 2. Cylinders 5 and 6 will starve for coolant, and will overheat. You may damage your engine.
Check the diagram below, and make sure that you have the gasket up the right way before installation

I have included a photo of the new gasket, with the orientation marked.

I’m back on the road for work again, and have brought half the gaskets (plus the plywood to ship them in) with me. I’ll start posting them out this week â€" please be patient as this will take a while. Once they are in the post, I’ll send each of you a PM with the tracking number.

Cheers,
Harv

[DJ]

Thanks Harv.

[Maco]

Hi Harv,

You are a champion for all the effort you have put into this to make it happen, it is very much appreciated.
Cheers
John

[graham_fuller]

Thanks Harv your a champion. Cheers Graham

[fcwrangler]

Mine arrived today, they look fantastic. Just need to get the engine rebuilt and back together.
Thanks again for all the work and effort you put in to make these happen.
Regards, Jim

[Maco]

Hi Harv,

My gaskets arrived today, they look fantastic, much appreciate the effort you have put into this project.
Cheers
John

[KFH]

Hi Harv

My gaskets arrived today and they look fantastic.  Thanks again for all the effort you have put into the project to make it happen.

Keith