Copper head gaskets

Hello all,
Anyone have any experience with copper head gaskets ? how do they seal?
They supposedly can be reused after anealing them..I'm thinking of getting one to try out.

Comments?

Tom

 

My only experience is with Mercedes using iron block with aluminum heads They are OK.. If sealed well with spray copper coat and VERY WELL anealed...(Got to have some crush) they are Ok... Make sure you can add 10% more torque to the headbolts without thread stripping and or bolt failure.. Best to do with new 10K or better bolts or studs/nuts.

 

Hello,

The spray you refere to...It's an anti seize compound?
Heavy or light coat on both the block and the head?

Thanks
Tom

 

only in comination with O ringing
here is link with some FAQ on copper head gaskets
http://www.headgasket.com/faq.html

 

We use them on our 426 hemi top fuel dragster motor. Aluminum block and heads, cast iron sleeves, like a Ferrari motor. Only 6.5:1 compression, but the blower and nitromethane fuel produces many times the explosive force in the cylinders. We don't anneal them between uses, but I suspect the 1400º F six-second exposure self-anneals them. I've seen melted spark plug electrodes, holed pistons, flattened bearings,etc., but never a blown headgasket.

 

Thanks for your feed back guy's but after looking at Garnet's Link on copper gaskets,
It seems like a lot of playing around to install them when other gasket systems like MLS
Work well.
I think I'll go with the standard oem gasket even though it's like $250 for one!
Regards

Tom