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BB Head Gaskets #3028456
03/28/22 07:28 PM
03/28/22 07:28 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 408
Cascade, CO
reknapp52 Offline OP
mopar
reknapp52  Offline OP
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Posts: 408
Cascade, CO
I've noticed on my low deck motor that the FelPro head gaskets have a restrictive slot where the coolant flows from the block into the heads. Does a factory head gasket have the same slot? Any harm done to open it up and get more flow? Or maybe there is a reason for it? Someone smarter than me must have designed it that way.

Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: reknapp52] #3028467
03/28/22 07:54 PM
03/28/22 07:54 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,263
New York, USA
Chargerfan68 Offline
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I cannot explain why or the engineering behind it, but I just know I have read that it was designed on purpose like that. But, not sure if that statement I had read was substantiated.


1.50 60Ft. , 10.75@ 127MPH Hauling 3900 LBS.
Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: reknapp52] #3028482
03/28/22 08:24 PM
03/28/22 08:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Bend,OR USA
Originally Posted by reknapp52
I've noticed on my low deck motor that the FelPro head gaskets have a restrictive slot where the coolant flows from the block into the heads. Does a factory head gasket have the same slot? Any harm done to open it up and get more flow? Or maybe there is a reason for it? Someone smarter than me must have designed it that way.

Which slots are you talking about? Pictures are worth a 1000 words work scope up
If your talking about the narrow short slits in the middle of the block and heads the factory did that for allowing a small amount of coolant to transfer from the block into the heads instead of making all the coolant go all the way back to the rear of the block to transfer into the heads through the big hole at the top rear of both sides of the blocks and heads scope

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 03/28/22 09:55 PM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: Cab_Burge] #3028550
03/29/22 01:44 AM
03/29/22 01:44 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 408
Cascade, CO
reknapp52 Offline OP
mopar
reknapp52  Offline OP
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Posts: 408
Cascade, CO
Yes Cab the slits that you mentioned are what I was looking at. Mostly just curious, I haven't had any heating issues, so probably will just leave them as is. As far as pictures, I haven't had any luck trying to post pictures to this forum. As I remember, it was somewhat complicated.

Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: reknapp52] #3028718
03/29/22 02:37 PM
03/29/22 02:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,440
NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch Offline
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NW Chicago suburban area
Your question of concern is common.

Head gaskets are designed to control the flow pattern and volume of coolant between the block and the head. Yes, some casting holes are blocked and/or restricted... again, to control the flow pattern and volume of coolant.

DO NOT EVER modify the head gasket's holes or you will encounter problems with engine temp at areas of the engine that you can't see. These patterns are designed by the OE developer.

I'm a former long-term applications engineer for a major gasket company.

Last edited by Mopar Mitch; 03/29/22 02:38 PM.

Mopar Mitch "Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers! Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: Mopar Mitch] #3028818
03/29/22 08:39 PM
03/29/22 08:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 408
Cascade, CO
reknapp52 Offline OP
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Cascade, CO
Thanks for the good info Mitch.

Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: Mopar Mitch] #3028872
03/29/22 11:29 PM
03/29/22 11:29 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
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Originally Posted by Mopar Mitch
Your question of concern is common.

Head gaskets are designed to control the flow pattern and volume of coolant between the block and the head. Yes, some casting holes are blocked and/or restricted... again, to control the flow pattern and volume of coolant.

DO NOT EVER modify the head gasket's holes or you will encounter problems with engine temp at areas of the engine that you can't see. These patterns are designed by the OE developer.

I'm a former long-term applications engineer for a major gasket company.


iagree

The slots prevent air pockets and allow a limited amount of coolant flow to help equalize the cylinder head temperatures. The majority of coolant is forced to flow from the front of the block to the back of the block, then up through the back of the cylinder head to the front of the cylinder head.
Enlarging the gasket holes will reduce the amount of coolant going to the rear cylinders and cylinder head.
There is a misconception that making the holes larger makes the engine run cooler because the front of the engine where the temp sender is will be running cooler than the rear part of the engine.

Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: 451Mopar] #3028990
03/30/22 01:59 PM
03/30/22 01:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,801
S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY Offline
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Twice per month call at the Tech Line.

Another was "I set it dot to dot and turned it around and around, then after I turned it #1 wasn't at TDC firing anymore when it was dot to dot, then I kept turning it
round and round and couldn't figure it out, so your parts are junk"






Rich H.

Esse Quam Videri




Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: reknapp52] #3029006
03/30/22 03:03 PM
03/30/22 03:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,440
NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch Offline
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NW Chicago suburban area
Furthermore, the extra casting holes, as well as extra large size, are primarily intended to extract sand from the casting process... on all blocks and heads from any mfgr.


Mopar Mitch "Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers! Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: ZIPPY] #3029012
03/30/22 03:11 PM
03/30/22 03:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,651
Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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Originally Posted by ZIPPY
Twice per month call at the Tech Line.

Another was "I set it dot to dot and turned it around and around, then after I turned it #1 wasn't at TDC firing anymore when it was dot to dot, then I kept turning it
round and round and couldn't figure it out, so your parts are junk"






LOL! Probably why most people called the .528 MP cam junk. After degreeing in, mine was 8* retarded when installed "dot to dot". Try to convince the masses that even the most mundane builds need degreed, though.


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: BB Head Gaskets [Re: GY3] #3029034
03/30/22 06:00 PM
03/30/22 06:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,801
S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY Offline
I Live Here
ZIPPY  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,801
S.E. Michigan
#1 vs #6 piston and valve activity seemed to be beyond alot of folks.

Attitudes are: Head gaskets must all be made in China, because they have restricted coolant flow to some holes.

That kind of stuff is the ridiculous waste of time kind of material people will call up and complain about to anyone who will listen,
and is just the everyday stuff faced by a Tech Guy.

Spring relocation kit discussions were usually pretty entertaining. Plenty of others.

The reason the 528 cam was called junk by so many is because it idled like a garbage truck and made a bunch of torque,
and we can't have that! If you don't have to have a 5 grand converter and 4.88s, clearly it can't be any good. That's the attitude....







Rich H.

Esse Quam Videri










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