I just started to disassemble the 230 6 cyl. out of my '57 Plymouth. My great-uncle had bought the car new, and his son told me the engine has never been rebuilt. Out of curiosity, does anyone know what type of head gasket was original on these engines? I pulled the head off tonight, and there was a copper gasket. I just wondered if it might be original. Thanks!

All the flat heads I've seen have the copper "sandwich" gasket. Had to do the one on my 251 flattie and it was copper as well. They aren't very cheap though...LOL

If you're looking for one, you might call Motor Machine in Hartford Michigan (269) 621-3601 . Not sure whether they still have them, but the rafters were full of them when I used to call on them about 10 years ago. Tell Keith John Brown said to call.

Rockauto shows composite ones available for a reasonable price.

I bought a load of gaskets to get one pair and most of the rest were for '30s chevy sixes. Many of those were copper sheets with what I assume to be asbestos in between. My thinking is that these were pretty standard materials back then.

R.