[blaktopr]

I dont have copper gasket aluminum block experience but do have copper gasket experience. First, be sure you don't ground anything (water pump/trans brake) to the heads. Also make sure you run a ground from each head to the frame. You will eat away (electrolosis?) at the water ports. In regards to prepping the gasket. I copper coated the gaskets. Then on the block and the heads I used red anaerobic (loctite/yamabond) lightly around each water hole. That sealer don't really set up/dry and moves with expansion. I had issues with water in my cylinder until I did this. I plan on doing something like it on my new all aluminum build with cometic gaskets.

[GTOGEORGE]

I don’t understand dry decking the block but not the heads.



GTO George

[69Goat1]

Not exactly how I wanted to spend my Friday morning but it wasn’t gonna get fixed any other way...it’s back at the machine shop now...




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[69Goat1]

Originally Posted by GTOGEORGE

I don’t understand dry decking the block but not the heads.



GTO George

I’m a rookie at dry decked anything...


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[77 TRASHCAN]

Does anyone offer solid Pontiac heads? Or dry decked heads?

[Scott Roberts]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

Does anyone offer solid Pontiac heads? Or dry decked heads?

Visner, All Pontiac and Dave Wilcox offer solid heads I believe

[johnta1]

I'd check with Butler on their soft head gaskets. Can get them with or without holes I believe. Your set now may be too hard to seal good.
Or could try annealing them I guess?
With the softer metal of aluminum, it's probably difficult to get the gasket to conform to the block/head.

[Scott Roberts]

Originally Posted by johnta1

I'd check with Butler on their soft head gaskets. Can get them with or without holes I believe. Your set now may be too hard to seal good.
Or could try annealing them I guess?
With the softer metal of aluminum, it's probably difficult to get the gasket to conform to the block/head.

They make "dead soft " gaskets... pretty sure it's softer than aluminum...

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

Does anyone offer solid Pontiac heads? Or dry decked heads?

KRE has Billet and solid cast heads!


GTO George

[cgeise]

Have the heads been pressure checked ????

[cgeise]

BTW They make copper head gaskets imprinted with sealing material around all the water hole areas if its still leaks I have seem SOMEONES aluminum heads leak due to porosity.

[69Goat1]

Leaking compression over to water holes in heads (black area is compression leak).







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[69Goat1]

Originally Posted by cgeise

Have the heads been pressure checked ????

We are going to weld up all the water holes and mill them back flat and pressure check them.


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[Dragncar]

Welding the holes up will not entirely cure what you have going on. If you are leaking compression without the blower, NA it needs addressed.
Its not like I am telling you anything you do not already know. Are the block/heads O ringed ?

[69Goat1]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

Welding the holes up will not entirely cure what you have going on. If you are leaking compression without the blower, NA it needs addressed.
Its not like I am telling you anything you do not already know. Are the block/heads O ringed ?

Yes...the block is dry decked and the heads as shown in the photos with the o-rings in place and the block has the receiver groove. I am not happy at all with how it leaked...so much so that I am tired of not racing so I ordered one of the last set of Cometic MLS 4.38 bore gaskets around and am going to use those and nix the blower for this summer since I am running out of time...my cam is a great nitrous cam as well so we are just going to spray it this year...

[taff2]

I recently dry decked a set of E heads, I used 3/8, 1/4, 1/8" NPT allen head plugs, easier than welding , and there's no chance of a porous weld or changing the heat treatment of the alloy.
I also smoothed off the unused spark plug threads in the chambers. I would spray the copper/ mls gaskets with VHT copper spray too, otherwise oil will migrate across the heads from the valley areas ( yeah, been there...)

[lust4speed]

Did you have any trouble with depth and the tap not being able to go far enough in to cut sufficient threads? Always wondered whether it would take altering a tap's length to get a wide enough cut farther down on the tap.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Not trying to cast any more doubt on anyone...I understand the coolant leaking, although NOT why, but WHY did it leak combustion too???

Hope you can make the Great Bend event, this fall! I went last fall, didn't get to talk to you. I met you at Tulsa, I believe the last time Steve Hoog attended and was alive, I think he passed shortly after...

The words in post 17 bother me...seeing moisture in aluminum blocks/headed engines??? Every time I've heard something similar, it was another problem...just my experience...

[johnta1]

I posted this link in another thread, but think it's still relevant here.

Max Race Software thread

This starts at page 2, but could start at page 1. The page2 and newer has some great info I believe.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by 69Goat1

Yes...the block is dry decked and the heads as shown in the photos with the o-rings in place and the block has the receiver groove. I am not happy at all with how it leaked...so much so that I am tired of not racing so I ordered one of the last set of Cometic MLS 4.38 bore gaskets around and am going to use those and nix the blower for this summer since I am running out of time...my cam is a great nitrous cam as well so we are just going to spray it this year...

Head gasket question. I tried to PM you but box is full.
Whats this "lasts sets" stuff. That is the head gasket I should need (4.375 bore)
Is it discontinued ?
Good luck this summer.