Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Moparts Question and Answer Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets?

Print Thread

Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? #1360025 12/28/12 01:12 AM 12/28/12 01:12 AM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,929 Tri-Cities, Washington V VITC_GTX OP master
VITC_GTX OP master V Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,929 Tri-Cities, Washington	Installed and torqued heads on my 383 last week using composite head gaskets. I need to remove the heads to do some work on the valves. Can I reuse the gaskets since the engine hasn't been run?

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: VITC_GTX] #1360026 12/28/12 01:26 AM 12/28/12 01:26 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	Not a dumb Q at all just unfortunate circumstances. Myself I would spring for a set of new ones live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: RapidRobert] #1360027 12/28/12 01:56 AM 12/28/12 01:56 AM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	I would still use them. I have had this happen before and have never had a head gasket failure. I once had a GM 350. Upon torquing the very last head bolt, the threads stripped out. I knew that it would need a Helicoil or something like it, so I pulled both heads so the engine would be light enough for me and my brother to hand load it into my truck! I reused the gaskets and had no problems. Other times I had the heads on and then had a moment of panic..."Did i put the pistons in with the valve reliefs pointing the right direction?" Once again, no troubles.

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: Kern Dog] #1360028 12/28/12 01:59 AM 12/28/12 01:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	I too have gotten away with it, to be save I did spray them with a couple passes of Permatex Copper Coat... "The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #1360029 12/28/12 02:09 AM 12/28/12 02:09 AM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	I guess the Permatex may be added insurance, but for some reason, and I must just be lucky, I never have used the stuff. I currently have an aluminum headed 440 stroked to 493. Dry Fel Pro perma-torque gaskets torqued to Edelbrock specs.

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: VITC_GTX] #1360030 12/28/12 03:37 AM 12/28/12 03:37 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,190 Bend,OR USA C Cab_Burge I Win
Cab_Burge I Win C Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,190 Bend,OR USA	Quote: Installed and torqued heads on my 383 last week using composite head gaskets. I need to remove the heads to do some work on the valves. Can I reuse the gaskets since the engine hasn't been run? I've reused the Fel Pro 8519PT composite head gaskets on more than one motor after dyno testing them. I've pulled the heads and oil pan to look at the piston flame travel and check the rod and main bearings, go for it I have a SB Chevy motor in the shop right now that has a special set of Fel Pro head gaskets that require a .010 deep reciever groove in the heads for the lockring wire in the head gaskets, this motor has a 6:71 roots blower on it and is street driven. I had the heads cut to raise the mechanical compression ratio from 7.5 to 8.3 to 1, that removed the original receiver groove and the shop that did that work didn't machine them back in. I didn't notice that it had them originally, long story on this minor rebuild I took them back off after reading the instruction that come with the head gaskets to get them machined, I sure hope the gaskets work correctly now Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: VITC_GTX] #1360031 12/28/12 03:48 AM 12/28/12 03:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,231 State of retirement 5 52savoy master
52savoy master 5 Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,231 State of retirement	I wouldn't worry about it. I've reused shim gaskets and they held up. currently..I have to take a new motor apart that has COMETIC's and will keep them in place. X

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: 52savoy] #1360032 12/28/12 09:35 AM 12/28/12 09:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,558 Midwest C Chargerfan pro stock
Chargerfan pro stock C Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,558 Midwest	I've done it on a 350. Just torqued them a couple more ft lbs than it called for. Those were just Felpro gaskets. 2011 Challenger R/T 2017 Ram 1500 BIG HORN Edition

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: VITC_GTX] #1360033 12/28/12 02:20 PM 12/28/12 02:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,157 Mass	I always subscribe to the motto: "better safe than sorry", toss them in the trash, start fresh...

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: DAYCLONA] #1360034 12/28/12 07:42 PM 12/28/12 07:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,788 A collage of whims topside Too Many Posts
topside Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,788 A collage of whims	"Manliest Response" so far goes to Frankenduster: 2 guys lifting a complete short-block into a pick-up?! I probably couldn't carry your sandwich, sir.

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: topside] #1360035 12/28/12 07:55 PM 12/28/12 07:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa M mikemee1331 master
mikemee1331 master M Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa	Quote: "Manliest Response" so far goes to Frankenduster: 2 guys lifting a complete short-block into a pick-up?! I probably couldn't carry your sandwich, sir. i've gotta second that! that's some 'studly' stuff right there. (p.s. - i would spring for a new set simply out of the aggrevation factor of having to tear it all down yet again)

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: mikemee1331] #1360036 12/28/12 08:11 PM 12/28/12 08:11 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,945 WI Dcuda69 master
Dcuda69 master Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,945 WI	I lost a cam after 800 mi in my 470" low deck. Disassembled cleaned installed new cam(roller this time )and reinstalled original head gaskets(Fel-pro). It's still fine 3+ yrs and a few thousand miles later. Go for it

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: VITC_GTX] #1360037 12/28/12 08:42 PM 12/28/12 08:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 462 santa anna, Tx. C charles6970 mopar
charles6970 mopar C Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 462 santa anna, Tx.	the people that would not reuse them are the people that have more $$$ than common sense. theres nothing wrong with them if you haven't run the engine.

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: charles6970] #1360038 12/28/12 09:57 PM 12/28/12 09:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,801 McGregor,Iowa 52157 5 500ciDuster top fuel
500ciDuster top fuel 5 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,801 McGregor,Iowa 52157	With no heat cycles I think it would be just fine but make sure it goes backe where it came from, don't swap sides Mitch

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: 500ciDuster] #1360039 12/28/12 11:04 PM 12/28/12 11:04 PM
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 216 E. Okla line M m88mark enthusiast
m88mark enthusiast M Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 216 E. Okla line	Back in the day when my diet cosisted of ramen noodles & brown derby beer, I did it all the time. Sprayed with silver paint & bolted back on. I'd do it again with a 10:1 motor, Mark

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: charles6970] #1360040 12/28/12 11:23 PM 12/28/12 11:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Quote: the people that would not reuse them are the people that have more $$$ than common sense. theres nothing wrong with them if you haven't run the engine. Common sense? You have a funny definition. I have reused steel shim gaskets (with copper coat) back in my no $$$$ days and they worked, mostly. Had one blow out between two cylinders. Lots of common sense used up that day pulling the heads and intake (all cast iron) with the engine in the car cause I save a few $$$ by reusing head gaskets. Common sense tells me that if you don't want to chance having to pull the heads off with the engine in the car buy new gaskets. That said, I doubt the OP would have an issue with never fired composite head gaskets. BTW, the most expensive composite head gasket listed at Rock Auto is $48. Not $$$ when considering the back strain involved in doing it again. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: VITC_GTX] #1360041 12/28/12 11:36 PM 12/28/12 11:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,929 Tri-Cities, Washington V VITC_GTX OP master
VITC_GTX OP master V Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,929 Tri-Cities, Washington	Good responses from all. I appreciate the opinions. I was lucky in the fact that I didn't have to remove the heads after all.

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: topside] #1360042 12/28/12 11:37 PM 12/28/12 11:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 10,847 Oakdale CT gdonovan I Live Here
gdonovan I Live Here Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 10,847 Oakdale CT	Quote: "Manliest Response" so far goes to Frankenduster: 2 guys lifting a complete short-block into a pick-up?! I probably couldn't carry your sandwich, sir. "Back in the day" I loaded shortblocks into car trunks, alone. No wonder my back is poop now!

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: topside] #1360043 12/29/12 06:40 PM 12/29/12 06:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	Quote: "Manliest Response" so far goes to Frankenduster: 2 guys lifting a complete short-block into a pick-up?! I probably couldn't carry your sandwich, sir. Well, it was only a small block Chevy.... Working as a Carpenter means lifting heavy things daily. Thanks for the nice words though!

Re: Dumb question. Reuse new head gaskets? [Re: Kern Dog] #1360044 12/29/12 07:23 PM 12/29/12 07:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 685 Bismarck, ND USA C cageman mopar
cageman mopar C Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 685 Bismarck, ND USA	I have a set of cometic head gaskets I have reused 10 times since 2004 when I bought them. I love those things. Just mark which side is up and which side is r or l and reuse them.

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1