I am getting ready to install the FelPro 8519 head gaskets on my 440 and I noticed they do not have any lower cooling holes. The top set between the bores are only slits. Why are they that way ? I am going to drill 1/4" holes in the 2 lower cooling pass through locations. The steel shim head gaskets I took off had these 2 locations opened up and all 3 upper locations were larger openings.

open them but use a punch rather than a drill. A drill will catch & shred the composite gasket

I just ran into this with my Fel-pro perma torque head gaskets. But I was told it was ok and put them on. Should I tear the motor back down and open them up? it was on a 360

The head gaskets are design to force most the water(coolant) to go to the back of the block and enter the heads there and go forward to the thermostat housing and then back into the radiator for cooling. I wouldn't mess with a proven design, unless your willing to reap the potential consquences

Unless you have an engineering degree that states you are smarter than the engineers that designed them I wouldnt mess with them.

I agree leave them alone.Ive run those and the 1009s and also the SB ones.I now have their marine gaskets on my 12.5 440.Never any problems.The set on my kids 413 have been on 12 years.Same thing no problems.Rocky

Didn't mean to hi jack this post from theorignal poster. Some may know I have had a pile of heating issue's with my 360 and hopefully haveing the heads machined will solve my problem. They were warped bad around 3 and 5. I'm in the process of putting it back together on my own with no help so I'm being awful cautious. Thanks for the replies....I left the cooling holes alone in the headgaskets put them on and torqued them down

Hopefully you torqued it in the proper sequence...

You might read Sanborns cooling info/mods that are in a sticky at the top of the page. www.moparchat.com then click on circle track chat. Alot of info to read thru but he's at the top of his game with cooling/oiling mods and he addresses the block/gasket holes. Alot can be applied to BB's as well.

JohnRR I have a picture I took today of the old head gasket that I still have. The gasket is not a factory one. I did a valve job/guide work years ago and the gaskets were from a parts house. They look like home made holes but that is how they were. They are fitzgerald brand 0943-LS. I had iron heads and now I am changing to aluminum, that is part of the reason for the Fel Pro 8519 gaskets. If you look closely you see 2 3/8" holes in each lower side and the upper holes are much wider than slits. The main reason I want to put small holes in the lower openings is to let trapped air flow through. If you look at the center of the gasket you will see the burn marks like is discussed in the other post in the race engine topics from the other day.

I am having a hard time getting the jpeg to attach to this post.

My new Cometic's for my -1s had no holes at the bottom either. Both the head and the block have holes. I haven't heard anyone complain ,I left them alone.
Doug

Your picture is too big which is why you can't get it to post.

as far as air pockets , air goes up so they will migrate to the highest points I would think.

You can add the holes , making slits bigger may or may not help be a big helper , does your block have the figure 8 holes or just round holes ? If just round holes the holes in the block don't line up with the heads.