Head gasket installation question

railknight

I'm going to be replacing the head gasket on my Super Wasp 262 engine as it has developed a few very minor leaks.  The replacement gasket is a Felpro product and it has a mirror like metal surface unlike other Hudson head gaskets I've seen that have a more textured surface.  My question is will the silver paint (Rust-Oleum) I plan to spray on both sides of the gasket adhere to this polished surface and stay in place after torqueing the head bolts?

Smaas1949

Don't use that gasket. They are junk. We have Best (brand name) gaskets. Composite material that seal way much better.

railknight

Thanks for the head's up regarding this head gasket.  I was a bit skeptical on using it and was curious if anyone had had prior experience with this brand and type.

ratlee2

I have used the silver ones that came with my gasket sets.  I have had no problems with leaks, but I use a couple heavy coats of coppercote on both sides of the gasket and allow to become tacking before installation.

Kdancy

I use the copper coat as well. Good stuff!
Also from felpro
Do not use copper spray or any other coating, adhesive or RTV on the Fel-Pro 26190 PT head gaskets. They feature a proprietary blue coating that helps seal micro-imperfections, allowing these gaskets to seal surfaces as rough as 60 Ra

Kdancy

And I would add, proper torquing and re-torquing is the most important part of head installation to me.
Assuming one uses a known accurate torque wrench!

RL Chilton

Kdancy said:

And I would add, proper torquing and re-torquing is the most important part of head installation to me.
Assuming one uses a known accurate torque wrench!

I second that and what Russ Maas said.  I've got a stack of the smooth gaskets on the shelf collecting dust.  

railknight

Too bad Best Gaskets doesn't reproduce the '51 - '54 wide block 232/262 head gasket.  To be sure, there are a fair amount of NOS ones out there, but you wonder what kind of shelf like these gaskets have over time.

BigSky

I would love to have a new Best Gasket available for my 212ci 6 cylinder!!

railknight

I contacted Best Gasket and spoke with someone about reproducing the head gasket for the wide block 232/262.  He told me there just isn't the call for that gasket and that the tooling cost to make the gasket would run from $3000.00 to $4000.00.  They would need an order of at least 50 to begin to make money and even that number probably wouldn't be worth the effort.  Perhaps there's more of a call for the 212 head gasket.