Just called Fel-pro about this and the answer to the question is a bit surprising. This .039" gasket could be any where from .039-.045" at crush. They typically crush .003-.004" at torque spec. He said not to measure the steel ring, but the composite. I measured .047", but i think that was the steel. I do remember at one point measuring the composite and it was about .050". I quess i will just use .045" as my figure for my notes.

Was able to cut a piece of head gasket and remeasure composite. I get .045", so actual crush should make it .042/.043 according to Felpro, giving me .040/.041 quench. Still good clearance and 12.5:1 compression.

I suggest to keep contacting FM/Fel-Pro about the 1009 bore issue... the priority is, unfortunately, low.. I presume... and tooling cost is relatively high to make such a change. Its been known for years about the small bore size... since its introduction.

The passenger BB gasket is 8519PT... simple tin-plate folded over armor... doubtful if they ever later made it using SS armor... cost factors.

As a low-cost excellent gasket, the marine 17059 is a very good choice.

Any one on here use the Fel Pro #1039 BB head gaskets yet?
If so what were your results?

Great gasket and even better than the 1009 but if I remember right it had fire ring issues also. But I’m going by memory as it been 15 years or so.

Thanks for the input ,
A friend of mine bought a set due to him needing more piston to head clearances on 440 towing truck motor with a belt driven centrifugal blower on it, those gaskets came with instruction to block off the two 1/8 steam holes in the block below the head alignment dowels and machine the deck square after putting in the dowels due to those gaskets not having those holes in them. I recommended getting a good hole punch kit and punch the holes in them and use them that way.
Those gaskets are for a 4.500 bore and .051 thick according to the info he found on the Fel Pro web site. His reverse domed pistons where .012 above the deck on the highest side and he wanted it to be safe at .035+ piston to head clearances.
He is building the motor now in SO CA and needs to tow his 24 ft. enclosed trailer with his wife Charger in it to their home in Georgia where he and his wife moved to earlier this year, They love living where they are now compared to living in congested SO CA for over 30 yrs, they both drag race and love working on their race cars together. I'm sure they will have a lot more choices on tracks to race at now